The National Fraud Initiative
This authority 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.
The Audit Commission appoints the auditor to audit the accounts of this
authority. It is also 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. This is usually
personal information. Computerised data matching allows fraudulent claims
and payments to be identified. Where a match is found it indicates 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.
The Audit Commission currently requires the London Borough of Bexley to
participate in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection
of fraud. The Audit Commission requires this authority to provide information
it holds for this purpose. The London Borough of Bexley is required to provide
particular sets of data to the Audit Commission for matching for each exercise,
and these are set out in the Audit Commission’s handbooks, which can
be found at  www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi
The use of data by the Audit Commission in a data matching exercise is carried
out with statutory authority under its powers in Part 2A of the Audit Commission
Act 1998. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under
the Data Protection Act 1998.
Data matching by the Audit Commission is subject to a Code of Practice.
This may be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi
For further information on the Audit Commission’s legal powers and
the reasons why it matches particular information, see www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi/fptext.asp or
contact Peter Yetzes, Head of NFI, Audit Commission, 1st Floor, Millbank
Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4HQ; telephone 0844 798 2222; email nfiqueries@audit-commission.gov.uk
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