Council and democracy

Fair processing notice

National Fraud Initiative - data matching

Croydon 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 Council.  It is also responsible for carrying out data matching exercises.

Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body aganst 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 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 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, which can be found on the Audit Commission's website.

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 maching by the Audit Commission is subject to a Code of Practice.  This, together with further information on the Audit Commission's legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information, can be found on the Audit Commission's website.  Click on the 'associated link' on the right of this page.

For more information about data matching at this authority phone or write to the address given below.

Contact Details

Contact name

Corporate anti-fraud team

Department

Finance

Telephone

020 8760 5645

Fax

0208 686 7405

Email

corporateanti-fraudteam@croydon.gov.uk

Address

Croydon Council
Taberner House
Park Lane
Croydon CR9 1JL