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You are in: Council » Fraud Initiative

National Fraud Initiative 2008-09

Stirling 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.

Audit Scotland appoints the auditor to audit the accounts of this authority. Audit Scotland assists appointed auditors by conducting a National Fraud Initiative, which is a data matching exercise

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 potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. Where a match is found, there is some inconsistency, which needs investigation before a conclusion can be drawn on whether there has been fraud or error.

Audit Scotland currently requires us to participate in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. Guidance on this can be found at Audit Scotland's Website

The use of data by Audit Scotland in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority, under auditors' powers in section 100 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and section 53 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.

More information is available by emailing us. or Tel. 01786 443088.