National Fraud Initiative

Fair Processing Notice 2008/2009

North Norfolk District 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 or detect fraud.

The Audit Commission appoints an 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. 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 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.

More information about data matching and the National Fraud Initiative can be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi

Data Protection

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, and complies with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Data matching by the Audit Commission is subject to a Code of Practice that may be read at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi/codeofdmp.asp

Further information

If you do have any questions, you should contact Peter Gollop, Corporate Risk Officer, on 01263 516050 or email peter.gollop@north-norfolk.gov.uk