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Public sector commercial activity can be attractive to organised criminals. It is therefore important for the council to consider risk of fraud and corruption when commissioning and procuring goods, works and services. Effective management of risk in these areas are part of being a risk-aware council, that manages its resources efficiently to secure value for money outcomes. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) defines such fraud and corruption as:
“…. any fraudulent or corrupt activity occurring within the entire procurement lifecycle, from decision to procure through to the conclusion of the contract and including all purchasing with a value below the level of a formal tender process. This will therefore include commissioning, contract management and purchasing, as well as the tendering process itself”
The council mitigates the risk of fraud and corruption using various tools, which includes before any contract award carrying out checks that will involve sharing personal and organisational information with fraud prevention agencies who will use it to prevent fraud and money-laundering and to verify identity.
If fraud is detected, individuals or organisations could be refused certain services, finance, or employment. Further details on how information will be used by the council, fraud prevention agencies, and data protection rights is available on Cifas.
The council takes any fraud and corruption seriously. Any suspected fraud or corruption must be brought to the attention of Commercial & Procurement in the first instance, who will refer to Legal Services for guidance, investigation, or action with the appropriate authorities. Alternatively, issues can be raised via the Council’s Whistleblowing Policy.