The National Fraud Initiative is a data matching exercise that has operated since 1966. The NFI assists public bodies and private sector organisations to prevent and detect fraud and error.
Bassetlaw District Council are required by law to protect the public funds we administer. On occasions the information we hold may be shared with other bodies, such as those responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud and for other lawful purposes.
The Cabinet Office is responsible for carrying out data matching exercises.
Data matching involves comparing computer records, usually containing personal information, held by one body against other computer records held by the same or another body to see how far they match.
The purpose of a data matching exercise is to allow potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. Where a match is found it indicates that there may be an inconsistency which requires further investigation. No assumption can be made whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until an investigation is carried out.
The Cabinet Office requires us to participate in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud.
Bassetlaw District Council are required to provide particular sets of data to the Minister for the Cabinet Office for matching for each exercise. More information can be found on the GOV.UK website - National Fraud Initiative.
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 General Data Protection Regulation 2016.
All Data matching undertaken by the Cabinet Office is subject to a Code of Practice.
That sets out how the data matching exercise is carried and puts in place certain safeguards in relation to the personal information collected during the exercise.
For further information on the Cabinet Office's legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information, view the fair processing initiative.
For further information on the data matching exercise at Bassetlaw District Council, please contact the Data Protection Officer at dataprotection@bassetlaw.gov.uk.
Last Updated on Monday, April 8, 2024