Anti-fraud and corruption

The council has a duty to protect the public funds it administers. Fraud and corruption deprives our services of vital resources. We are committed to the prevention, detection, and investigation of all forms of fraud, bribery and corruption in all areas of the council’s services.

Our fraud investigators are responsible for investigating all fraud matters which directly impact the council, in areas such as:

business rates
council tax
council tax support
grants
homelessness and housing waiting lists
licensing
payroll
planning
procurement

To assist in the fight against fraud and corruption, the council supports the Fighting Fraud and Corruption Locally Strategy.

Housing Benefit Fraud is the responsibility of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and should be reported to the DWP National Benefit Fraud Hotline via GOV.UK website.

Report fraud for investigation

If you suspect fraud or corruption is being committed against the council or its services, report it to us.

Give as much information as possible to help us investigate such as:

names, addresses and detailed descriptions of the people you are reporting
details of the fraud they are committing
how long it has been happening
any other relevant details, for example where they work or their vehicle details

Do not:

seek information on our behalf

You do not have to give your name or contact details when reporting fraud, but it does help if we need to ask you for more information. If you do provide your personal details, they will be kept confidential and only used if we need to contact you. Our privacy policy explains how we handle your personal data.

Report a potential fraud online

Email: fraud@basingstoke.gov.uk

Freephone hotline 0800 525 927

What happens after reporting fraud

Every report received is reviewed and taken seriously. If issues are found, then appropriate action will be taken. This could include a full investigation and may lead to prosecution or other sanctions. Other agencies or organisations may also be informed if there are issues that cannot be dealt with by the council.

While you may not see any action being taken, please be assured that the council takes fraud and corruption seriously and will take appropriate action where necessary.

Unfortunately, Data Protection laws prevent us from being able to give progress updates or tell you the outcome of our investigations.

Protecting yourself from fraud and scams

Action Fraud is the UK’s national fraud and internet crime reporting centre. It provides a central point of contact for information about fraud and financially motivated internet crime.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud or need information on protecting yourself and others from fraud and scams visit Action Fraud's website.

National Fraud Initiative (NFI) - Data matching

Level 2 – Fair processing notice

Basingstoke and Deane Borough 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, 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 which is 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 Officer for matching for each exercise.

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 2018.

Data matching by the Cabinet Office is subject to a Code of Practice.

For further information on the Cabinet Office’s legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information visit GOV.UK webpage.