National Fraud Initiative 2008

Since 1996 the Audit Commission has run the National Fraud Initiative (NFI), an exercise that cross-checks electronic data to prevent and detect fraud. It covers information from police authorities, local probation boards, fire and rescue authorities as well as local councils. To date, an estimated £450 million of fraud and overpayments have been identified and the initiative has attracted international recognition.

Every two years the City of Westminster supplies information to the Audit Commision for this reason. The latest data match commenced on Monday 6 October 2008.

To find out more about the information we are required to provide to the Audit Commission's guidance, visit 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/codeofdmp.asp.

For further information on the Audit Commission's legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information, see http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi/fptext.asp.

For further information on data matching at this authority contact Steven Barry on 020 7641 2431 or by email.