Data Protection and National Fraud
Local Authorities are required to protect the public funds they administer. They may share information provided with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, or where undertaking a public function, in order to prevent and detect fraud.
The cabinet Office is responsible for carrying out data matching exercises.
Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body against other computer records held by the same or another body to see how far they match. This is usually personal information. Computerised data matching allows potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. Where a match is found it may indicate that there is an inconsistency which requires further investigation. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until an investigation is carried out.
We participate in the Cabinet Office’s National Fraud Initiative: a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. We are required to provide particular sets of data to the Minister for the cabinet Office for matching for each exercise, as detailed here
(https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-fraud-initiative)
The use of data by the Cabinet Office in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority under Part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.
Data matching by the Cabinet Office is subject to a Code of Practice
View further information on the Cabinet Office’s legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fair-processing-national-fraud-initiative/fair-processing-level-3-full-text)
Chorley Council and South Ribble Borough Council are required by law to protect the public funds they administer. They may share information provided to us with other bodies responsible for auditing, or administering public funds, or were undertaking a public function, in order to prevent and detect fraud. Both South Ribble Borough Council and Chorley Council participate in the Cabinet Office's National Fraud Initiative (NFI) which is a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud against us and other organisations in the public sector. We are required to provide particular sets of data to the Minister for the Cabinet Office for matching for each exercise, which is required every 2 years.
Please click here Chorley Borough Council’s National Fraud Initiative Privacy Notice https://chorley.gov.uk/counciltaxnationalfraudinitiative which also includes further information on the Notice of Fair Processing for Cabinet Officer Data Matching.
Please click here for South Ribble Borough Council’s National Fraud Initiative Privacy Policy Council Tax and National Fraud Initiative | South Ribble which also includes further information on the Notice of Fair Processing for Cabinet Officer Data Matching.