News
National Fraud Initiative
24 September 2008
North Down Borough 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 Local Government Auditor audits the accounts of this
Council. The Comptroller and Auditor General is also responsible
for carrying out data matching exercises under his powers
in Articles 4A to 4G of the Audit and Accountability (Northern
Ireland) Order 2003.
Data matching involves comparing computer records held
by one body against other computer records held by the same
or another body to see how far they match. 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 may be an inconsistency
that 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 Comptroller and Auditor General currently requires
us to participate in a data matching exercise to assist
in the prevention and detection of fraud. We are required
to provide particular sets of data to the Comptroller and
Auditor General for matching. Details are set out in the
Northern Ireland Audit Office's website, www.niauditoffice.gov.uk.
The use of data by the Comptroller and Auditor General
in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory
authority. It does not require the consent of the individuals
concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.
Data matching by the Comptroller and Auditor General is
subject to a Code of Practice. This may be found at www.niauditoffice.gov.uk.
For further information on Comptroller and Auditor General's
legal powers and the reasons why he matches particular information,
see the NFI documents here.
For further information on data matching at North Down
Borough Council contact
Information Manager - M McVeigh
Telephone: (028) 9127 0371
Fax: (028) 9127 1370
Email: InformationManager@northdown.gov.uk
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