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Local Authority Benefit Fraud Conference 2008
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The changing framework for local authority benefit
fraud investigation
Thursday 6th November
Local Government House, Smith Square, Westminster SW1
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The morning programme
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10.30
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Chair’s Introduction and Welcome
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10.35
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Financial Investigation for Local Authority Fraud
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Dave Wright, Benefit Fraud Investigation Manager, Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
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Financial investigation, under the Criminal Justice Act and Proceeds of Crime Act, is used to scrutinise financial irregularities alongside criminal investigation. It is being considered as a tool by many local authority benefit fraud teams. A few authorities, including Trafford, currently use trained financial investigators within their anti-fraud work. In this session Dave Wright sets out the importance of financial investigation and its uses to local authority fraud teams. The presentation will also look at the effectiveness of financial
investigation, why it is a good shared service opportunity and why financial directors and elected members are supportive.
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11.00
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Local Authority Led HB/CTB & DWP Benefit Prosecutions
- the early lessons
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Kim Neal, Barrister
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The Welfare Reform Act came into force in April 2008. This gave local authority fraud teams the power to investigate and prosecute HB/CTB cases where certain DWP benefits were also in payment. The first local authority led HB/CTB plus DWP benefit cases have now been prosecuted and this session looks at the early lessons to be learnt, the advantages of the new way of working, the impact on local authority resources and the impact on sentencing
by the Courts.
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11.25
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Questions
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11.35
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The Introduction of KLoEs and their Relevance to Fraud
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Darren Walklate, Managing Consultant, Meritec
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Key Lines of Enquiries (KLoEs) are designed to provide inspectors, inspected bodies and others with a framework through which to view and assess services. This presentation will provide an overview of the new KLoEs and will focus on the impact on local authority fraud teams and how fraud teams can ensure that they are KLoE friendly.
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12.00
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Questions
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12.05
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Refreshments
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12.20
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Corporate Fraud Teams – the future for local authority fraud investigation?
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Diane Baker, Fraud and Investigations Manager,
Peterborough City Council
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Corporate fraud teams are becoming an increasingly popular model for local authorities. In this model, all council anti-fraud activities are incorporated within one central team. This presentation will set out the advantages of a corporate fraud model which enables benefit fraud awareness to develop into a key driver of corporate anti-fraud initiatives. It will also set out the challenges and processes involved in developing a benefit fraud team model
into a wider corporate model.
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12.45
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Questions
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12.50
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The National Anti-Fraud Initiative 2008
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Sally Gubbins, NFI Co-ordinator, Audit Commission
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Since 1996 the Audit Commission has run the National Fraud Initiative (NFI), This session provides an update on this year’s NFI programme including the Audit Commission’s Code of Data Matching Practice 2008 and the 2008/09 programme.
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1.10
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Questions
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1.15
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Lunch
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The afternoon programme
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2.00
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Voice Risk Analysis – an aid in combating fraud?
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James Ablewhite, Lead on VRA, Local Authority Performance Division,
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
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The use of Voice Risk Analysis software is now being used by a number of authorities to assist in combating fraud. This presentation will provide a view on the uses of Voice Risk Analysis (VRA) for interviewers and investigators for both benefits validation purposes and within fraud detection processes.
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2.25
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Questions
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2.35
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Data Handling and Exchange – guidance in the light of recent technological advances
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Alison Wellens, Head of Data Protection Practice Public Sector,
Data Protection Practice Team, Information Commissioner’s Office
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Technical advances in computers and telecommunications allow further access to data and increased facilities for matching of data – these are used by authorities to help combat fraud. This raises questions of compatibility with current data protection legislation which has recently been discussed in Parliament. This address will provide guidance from the Information Commissioner’s office on the limits to data usage, exchange and matching for
anti-fraud purposes.
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3.00
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Questions
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3.10
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Data Access and Security – Current Practioner Issues: Accessing Personal Internet and Text Data under RIPA & Ensuring Security of Data
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Malcolm Gardner, Counter Fraud Group and Consultant, Meritec
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Local authorities, as well as other public bodies, will be given power to access details of personal text, emails and internet usage under Home Office proposals published in August 2008. In addition, the government is planning to introduce a communications bill in the autumn of 2008 requiring telecommunication companies to provide data to a central data
store which may be accessed by police and public bodies. This will have obvious implications for fraud investigation. This session looks at these new proposals and the likely effect on local authority fraud investigation. It will also address issues around information security – a very high profile issue following recent data loses by public bodies.
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3.35
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Questions
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3.45
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Chair’s Conclusion
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3.50
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Conference Close
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To Book Online |
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Click
Here |
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For booking in pdf format |
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Click
Here |
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Benedict Business
Resources |
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01483 203536 |
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