Report fraud

We take the risk of fraud extremely seriously and work hard to prevent it.

Report a fraud

The South West London Fraud Partnership (SWLFP) is responsible for understanding and assessing fraud risks, preventing and detecting fraud and ensuring that appropriate sanctions are taken against those who commit fraud against us.

Please tell us if you have any concerns about fraudulent behaviour connected to the Council.

Types of fraud

SWLFP can investigate fraud and corruption by members of the public, businesses, staff, partners or contractors, including:

• Blue Badge fraud
• Business rates fraud
• Council Tax fraud
• Council Tax Reduction fraud
• Freedom Pass fraud
• Grant fraud
• Housing fraud
• Insurance fraud
• Internal (staff) fraud
• Procurement fraud
• School application fraud
• Social care fraud
• Theft of council property

Find out more about the South West London Fraud Partnership.

Other types of fraud

Theft from the Council is theft against you. Help us to ensure that all spending goes on delivering and improving services.

We take the risk of fraud extremely seriously. If you know or suspect someone is committing fraud, bribery or corruption against the council, report it and let us do something about it.

National Fraud Initiative

We are required by law to protect the public funds we administer. We may share information provided to us with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, or where undertaking a public function, to prevent and detect fraud.

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 Department for Work and Pensions is also responsible for carrying out National data matching exercises which we are required to participate in, known as the National Fraud Initiative (NFI). This is 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 Department for Work and Pensions for matching for each exercise as shown on the GOV.UK website.

The use of data by the Department for Work and Pensions in a data matching exercise is carried out with legal 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 Department for Work and Pensions is subject to a Code of Practice.

View further information on the National Fraud Initiative Privacy Notice about the legal powers and the reasons why particular information is matched.

Anti-fraud framework

Our Whistleblowing Code (pdf, 514 KB) sets out our policies and strategies in relation to fraud and corruption. It includes our approach to issues including bribery and money laundering.