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Nathan Elvery

Nathan Elvery. Director of Finance & Resources. London Borough of Croydon. National Fraud Initiative. Agenda. A little bit of background Anti-Fraud – our corporate priority Our experience of NFI. A little of background. Started my career in Audit and Anti-Fraud

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Nathan Elvery

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  1. Nathan Elvery Director of Finance & Resources London Borough of Croydon

  2. National Fraud Initiative

  3. Agenda A little bit of background Anti-Fraud – our corporate priority Our experience of NFI

  4. A little of background • Started my career in Audit and Anti-Fraud • Have ran Anti-fraud services in • District councils • Greater London Authority (Region Government) • Westminster City Council (Inner London Borough) • Croydon Council (Outer London Borough) • Local Government for over 20 years

  5. London Borough of Croydon ‘City’ on the edge of a great City

  6. London Borough of Croydon - 1/33 CROYDON

  7. The largest borough in London

  8. Relevant facts • 32,000 Housing Benefit Claimants • 36% of population ethnic minority – over 100 languages spoken • Pockets of deprivation, some of the highest in England alongside some of London’s most expensive housing.

  9. Croydon in context

  10. Gross Budget £796m

  11. Staffing

  12. Our Corporate Priorities

  13. An opening thought “There is no kind of dishonesty into which otherwise good people more easily and frequently fall than that of defrauding the government” Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790 American Scientist, Publisher, Diplomat

  14. Value for MoneyAnti-Fraud & Corruption Policy “We are responsible for paying or spending millions of pounds of public money in delivering services and assistance and paying benefits. We are committed to ensuring that those funds are legitimately used and only those entitled to services and benefits receive them.” NFI is the major tool in our armoury

  15. NFI Our experience “I've always made a total effort even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win” Arnold Palmer 1929-, American Golfer Quote

  16. Payroll Creditors Housing Benefits Insurance Claims Parking Permits Disabled Badges Market Traders Concessionary Travel Council Tax Electoral Register Pensions Housing Rents Student Loans Private Care Homes National Fraud Initiative - Coverage

  17. Success by working as One Team in One Way

  18. Delivery the Practical Issues • 46,500 matches to investigate • Priority • Planning • Resources (20 staff) • Management • Results

  19. Success: Partnerships • Partnership with Deloitte & Touche Public Sector Internal Audit Ltd • Department of Work and Pensions • Audit Commission • Mutual support • Joint working • Sharing of ideas and approaches • Dynamic Culture

  20. NFI Outcomes 2 years of hard work through an investment of £50,000. The amount identified for recovery at Croydon Council alone: £1,020,000

  21. Council Tax Discounts Vs Electoral Register (Croydon) Payroll (All) Vs Housing Benefits (All) Pensions (All) Vs Housing Benefits (All) Housing Benefits (Croydon) Vs Housing Benefits (Other) £652,000 £280,000 £47,000 £35,000 NFI Results – Areas of Greatest Return

  22. CASESTUDY: Blue badges vs list of deaths • Blue Badges (disabled parking permits) are allocated for a 3 year period • Most matches revealed that the holder had died during the 3 year period • One badge had been renewed 3 times since date of death • Each application came with a photo! • The applicant was the widow of the original holder • Interviewed formally, but prosecution was not in the public interest – 80 year old widow given formal caution

  23. CASESTUDY: Benefits vs Benefits • 1 name, 2 benefit claims • The match showed a claim made in 2 different boroughs, but 1 identity • Investigation showed Croydon’s claimant was using a false French ID card • Arrested by immigration • Referred for prosecution (if we get there before deportation!) • £8,000 in overpaid benefits

  24. CASESTUDY: Payroll vs Payroll • Croydon Employee identified as working at another London Borough • Off sick at Croydon – getting sick pay • Employee resigned from Croydon before disciplinary proceedings • Interviewed formally • No further action except recovery of £1,000 overpaid salary

  25. CASESTUDY: Payroll vs Payroll • Croydon Night Care Assistant • Also Social Worker for Another London Borough • Working 36 hours a week … • For both employers • No sickness issues, however European Working time directive and concern about provision of care

  26. Political Impact The Cabinet are committed to improving value for money and see a robust and challenging anti-fraud strategy as critical foundation of this commitment.  Using all of the tools available to us to deliver that agenda, including data-matching, ensures that our scare resources support the most vulnerable in our communities and deliver all our aspirations” Gavin Barwell Cabinet Member for Resources and Customer Services

  27. Residents Impact

  28. Opportunities for Northern Ireland? • Structure in NI not the same as England • Many Local Government services in England are provided by Government departments in NI • Range of Local Government services in NI evolving and broadening further • Most NFI matches are covered by someone in this room.

  29. Clear Positive Community Messages

  30. One last thought "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."

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