Counter Fraud

Counter Fraud Team

Gloucester City Council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers, to prevent and detect fraud and deter bribery and corruption in all areas. 

The council have access to a counter fraud team and dedicated enforcement officers to investigate allegations of fraud and abuse and to safeguard against potential loss of revenue.

The Counter Fraud Team (CFT) will investigate allegations of fraud, both internal and external, including alleged misconduct by staff and councillors.  The CFT are also able to investigate all other allegations of fraud and abuse (including attempted fraud) by the general public, which may result in a loss to public funds.  The council also directly employ enforcement officers who can investigate allegations of environmental crime and planning breaches.

How to Report Fraud to the Council

To report any allegations of fraud or abuse of public funds, e.g. benefit fraud, false grant applications, council tax discounts, housing or council tax benefit fraud please follow the steps below:

Give as much information as you can about the person you’re reporting. This could include:

  • their name
  • their address
  • the type of fraud you think they’re committing
  • any other relevant details

You can make a report anonymously - you do not have to give your name or contact details unless you want to.

Phone

You can contact us confidentially on 01452 396 396

Email

You can send a report to benefits@gloucester.gov.uk

Post

Write to us at: The Investigations Team, Gloucester City Council, PO Box 2017, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 9BJ

How to Report Internal Fraud

If you are an employee, councillor or a contractor and wish to report an allegation about a colleague, or non compliance with systems, processes or policies, please see the council’s whistleblowing policy and complete this form anonymously or call the 24/7 confidential whistleblowing line anonymously on 01452 427052.

National Fraud Initiative (NFI) and Data Matching

Gloucester City Council participate in the Cabinet Office’s National Fraud Initiative – this is a data matching exercise regularly undertaken to prevent and detect fraud nationally.

The NFI data match does not require the consent of the individuals under Data Protection legislation.

The Cabinet Office’s code of data matching practice

National Fraud Initiative Privacy Notice

In addition, Gloucester City Council conduct data matching exercise to ensure the integrity of the funds it administers.  Data matching is comparing records held by one authority with records held by the same or another body to identify irregularities.  The data match may contain personal information.  For more information about how the council use the data, please see Gloucester City Council privacy notice.

Other Frauds

If you suspect that you may have been the victim of a fraud or scam please call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or report it online to Action Fraud.