Fraud
Grant fraud to soar
Grant fraud is expected to soar because of the amount of COVID-19 funding channelled through local government, according to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
Facing down the fraudsters
Tracie Langley offers three lines of attack to protect councils responsible for passporting significantly more money than normal from fraudsters.
Operation Sheridan four released under investigation
Four sector figures arrested three years ago have been released under investigation following a review.
In defence of algorithms and their value to public services
Rather than turning our back on algorithms, the task is to make them better and the data they use more balanced and properly representative, argues Andrew Laird.
EXCLUSIVE: Police refuse to reveal sector probe costs
Police have refused to publish the costs of an investigation into four sector figures who remain on bail three years after they were arrested.
CIPFA mulls legal action against council
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has put aside £500,000 to fund potential legal action against Ealing LBC over a contract dispute.
EXCLUSIVE: Ministers pile pressure on councils over business grants
Business secretary Alok Sharma has expressed concerns that some councils have paid out less than 80% of their grants to small firms.
Council staff warn fraud is a major risk for local government
Two-thirds of local government professionals think fraud is a major risk for councils, a new survey has revealed.
Fraud in times of crisis
As CIPFA publishes research showing local government professionals believe fraud is a major risk, Marc McAuley says we must learn from past mistakes.
Coronavirus fraud warning
Finance experts have warned coronavirus could bring an increased risk of fraud.
Councils face barriers as they try to tackle fraud
Local authorities are still encountering barriers to tackling fraud effectively, a new document has highlighted.
Council director on bail after fraud arrest
Liverpool City Council’s director of regeneration and employment has been released on bail a day after being arrested as part of an ongoing fraud investigation.
Surge in number of council tax fraud cases
The number of council tax fraud cases uncovered by local authorities increased by a fifth over the past year, new research has found.
Government stands firm after Pickles plea
The Government has said it ‘would not be appropriate’ to pay legal costs to whistleblowers in electoral fraud cases despite a former communities secretary revealing he fought for it to happen.
Pickles: Fraud can change council control
There are still weaknesses in the running of local elections, a House of Lords select committee has heard.
Voter ID confidence drops
The proportion of people who think voter ID helps to prevent electoral fraud has dropped from 52% in 2016 to 35% in 2019, new research has found.
Bristol auditors urge management action
Internal auditors have urged managers at Bristol City Council to improve oversight of the authority's finances.
Police looking at new fraud allegations at West Dunbartonshire
New information concerning alleged fraudulent activity at West Dunbartonshire Council has been passed to police.
Police launch investigation into £70k fraud at Surrey
A police investigation is underway into how nearly £70,000 was ‘misspent’ by a council officer.
Council rejects returning to misconduct claims
West Dunbartonshire Council has rejected taking action against officers accused of misconduct despite being urged to reconsider by an audit watchdog.
