stoke.gov.uk

Encouraging Fraud Reporting

Paul BicknellCorporate Fraud Manager

Why Encourage Fraud Reporting?

Substantial Financial Loss

According to the NFA:-

2013 total loss - £52 billion

In Local Government

Estimated loss:-

£2.1 billion excluding Housing Benefit

Relevant Fraud Types

Procurement - £876 million

Housing Tenancy - £845 million

Payroll - £154 million

HA’s/RSL’s

Estimated Cost Of Tenancy Fraud:-

£919 million

Emerging Frauds Council Tax Support/Business Rates

Internal Fraud

Right To Buy

Direct Payments (Social Care)

Schools

Insurance

But Really, Why Bother?

Moral

Reputational

Income generation?

Zero tolerance = Effective organisation

Spot The Cheater

What other frauds are out there?

12 month, high profile campaign - Now ongoing

4 main areas of fraud

Aims

Raise awareness of other types of fraud

Change the culture - Get the public onside

Cost £260k : Identify £1.2 million

Recover 20 properties

How?

Develop a brand

Simple, eye-catching, memorable

Publicity

Resources to deal with referrals

Make it easy to report fraud

More publicity, put it about!

Billboard

Bus Ads

Poster

Results 01/04/11 to 31/03/12 Referrals = 1508 LT fraud – 446 (30%) Undeclared work – 261 (17%) Zero allegations for CTax & Blue Badge

01/04/12 to 31/03/13 Referrals = 1777 LT fraud – 498 (28%) Tenancy fraud – 336 (19%) CTax – 51 & Blue Badge - 20

Results – cont.. £1.1 million benefit fraud

64 properties recovered - Approx £6k each = £372k

4 Blue Badges

£6028 CTax SPD (22 cases)

Grand Totals

Total Identified:-

£1.5 millionTotal Outlay:-

£115k

The Secret Formula….

Awareness

Just do it!

Publicity

Questions?

Contact Details/Media Pack Enquiries :-

paul.bicknell@stoke.gov.uk

Tel: 01782 232828