St Albans District Council is committed to detecting and preventing Benefit Fraud. The Council has therefore approved a strategy for on-going investigation of Fraudulent Benefit claims.

The Council recognises the need for adequate resources for combating Benefit Fraud and Abuse by the prevention, detection and investigation of Benefit Fraud and in the prevention of error. This will be achieved by:

• Maintaining a separate team to prevent and detect fraud and abuse, with adequate resources;
  
  
• Fraud officers undertaking specialist training courses in fraud and continuous professional development (“Professionalism in Security – PINS”);
  
  
• Maintaining good Quality Control procedures, and monitoring accuracy in line with good practice and DWP/Audit requirements;
  
  
• Continuing compliance with the DWP verification framework;
  
  
• Continuing participation with computer data matching exercises in compliance with Data Protection Act legislation, including the DWP Housing Benefit Matching Service and the Audit Commission National Fraud Initiative;
  
  
• Good liaison contact with outside agencies and entering into Service Level Agreements where practicable; including joint working with DWP staff;
  
  
• A Code of Conduct for Investigation and Visiting officers;
  
  
• Regular internal meetings, and setting of work plans;
  
  
• The use of understandable leaflets and claim forms, and the provision of advice (including a help point in the Council offices);
  
  
• A Council Prosecution/Sanction Policy for Housing and Council Tax Benefit Fraud – with publicity in the case of successful prosecutions;
  
  
• Promoting fraud awareness;
  
  
• Providing facilities for staff and public to report possible cases of fraud;
  
  
• Periodically receiving reports of performance and results of anti-fraud measures;
  
  
• Subscribing to membership of the National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN), and the Local Authority Investigation Officers Group (LAIOG).
  
  
• Service Level Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding with the national Counter-Fraud Investigation Service (CFIS);
  
  
• Utilising various methods to combat fraud, such as use of the Royal Mail 'Do Not Redirect' service.