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The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) Data Matching Exercise

 
The 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.

The Audit Commission appoints the auditor to audit the accounts of this authority. It is also responsible for carrying out data matching exercises.

What is data matching?

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 examination. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until examination is completed.

The Audit Commission currently requires us to participate in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. We are 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 guidance.

Read the Audit Commission's guidance on data matching.

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.

Related information

How can I find out more?

For queries relating to fraud investigation at Greenwich Council contact:

Corporate Anti Fraud Team
6th Floor
Riverside House
Woolwich
London SE18 6DN

You can also email or telephone for information using the details on the right.

For further information on data protection at Greenwich Council please contact:

Corporate Information Security Compliance Manager
4th Floor
Riverside House
Woolwich
London SE18 6BU

You can also phone on 020 8921 5712.

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