The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) in Scotland is a bi-annual counter-fraud data matching exercise led by Audit Scotland, and overseen by the Cabinet Office for the UK as a whole. The Council is required by Audit Scotland to provide certain data it holds including payroll data, under its powers in Part 2A of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000.
The previous 2020/2021 NFI exercise in Scotland identified fraud or error of £14.9 million. Within East Dunbartonshire, fraud or error totalling £0.5 million was identified and so it represents an important exercise for detecting fraud and safeguarding the Council’s finances.
Data matching involves comparing electronic records held by one body against other records held by the same or another body. 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 may be 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. The exercise can also help bodies to ensure that their records are up to date.
Further information about NFI including the instructions from Audit Scotland and a copy of The Code of Data Matching Practice are available on the NFI page of the Council website.
More details on how we use employees’ data is contained within the Privacy Notice – Employees which is also on the Council website.
Whilst the NFI exercise is vital in the Council’s commitment to safeguarding public funds and maintaining the highest standards of probity, it is recognised that the most important defence we have is our employees. If an employee suspects fraud to have occurred they should report this by using one of the following methods:
Email to fraud@eastdunbarton.gov.uk
Employees can also report concerns via whistleblowing. Further details and an online reporting facility
Thank you,
Jamie Robertson
Chief Finance Officer