Fair Processing Statement
National Fraud Initiative
As of October 2008, Uttlesford District Council has been taking part in the National Fraud Initiative. Personal data relating to employees, insurance claimants, applicants for concessionary travel, residents’ parking permits, market trader, taxi and personal licences and benefit claimants is being supplied to the Audit Commission for matching with other data to prevent and detect fraud and error in public finance expenditure.
Uttlesford 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 and detect fraud.
The Audit Commission appoints the auditor to audit the accounts of this authority. It is also responsible for carrying out data matching exercises.
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 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 currently requires us to participate in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. The Audit Commission requires this authority to provide information it holds for this purpose. We are required to provide particular sets of data to the Audit Commission for matching for each exercise, and these are set out in the Audit Commission’s handbooks, which can be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi.
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. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.
Data matching by the Audit Commission is subject to a Code of Practice. This may be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi.
For further information on the Audit Commission’s legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information, see www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi/fptext.asp.
For further information on data matching at this authority please email Data Protection Officer Paul Woolcott at pwoolcott@uttlesford.gov.uk or ring 01799 510510. Hard copies of the information on this website can be supplied on request.
Declaration
Please read this declaration carefully, as it applies to all communications with the council.
By communicating with the council, you understand the following:
- Information you submit, or have submitted, in all correspondence to the council will be processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and relevant legislation
- The council will use the information you provide or provided for the purpose of performing any of its statutory enforcement duties. It will make any disclosures required by law and may also share this information, both across council departments and with other government organisations
- If you give or gave information that is incorrect or incomplete, the council may take action against you