National Fraud Initiative

GYBC 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 or where undertaking a public function in order to prevent and detect fraud.

The Council participates in the Cabinet Office's National Fraud Initiative, a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. We are required to provide particular sets of data to the Minister for the Cabinet Office for matching for each exercise, as detailed on GOV.UK: National Fraud Initiative (opens new window).

The information provided covers:

• payroll
• trade creditors standing data
• trade creditors payment history
• taxi driver licences
• Housing Benefit claimants
• Council Tax Reduction Scheme
• Council Tax
• housing tenants
• business rates
• business support grants
• Right to Buy
• housing waiting list
• register of electors

The Cabinet Office is 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 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 may indicate 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 use of data by the Cabinet Office in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority under Part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 2018.

Data matching by the Cabinet Office is subject to a Code of Practice (opens new window).

GOV.UK - Fair processing (opens new window) provides further information on the Cabinet Office's legal power and the reasons why it matches particular information.

For further information on data matching at GYBC, please contact:

Corporate Risk Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
Greyfriars House
Greyfriars Way
Great Yarmouth
Norfolk
NR30 2QE