The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) matches electronic data within and between public and private sector bodies to prevent and detect fraud. These bodies include police authorities, local probation boards, fire and rescue authorities, local councils and a number of private sector bodies.
Therefore, Stratford-on-Avon District Council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. It may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.
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 indicates that there is an inconsistency that requires further investigation. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or another explanation until an investigation is carried out.
The Cabinet Office requires us to participate in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. For each exercise, we are required to provide particular sets of data for matching, which are set by the Cabinet Office and can be found on their website. The use of data by the Cabinet Office in such an exercise is carried out with statutory authority under its powers in Part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the General Data Protection Regulation.
Data matching is subject to a code of practice .
For further information, please contact Revenues Manager Jenni Love on 01789 260901 or email jenni.love@stratford-dc.gov.uk.
