Fighting Fraud and Corruption Locally

The local government counter fraud and corruption strategy 2016 to 2019

Cifas is pleased to be the secretariat for ‘Fighting fraud and corruption locally: the local government counter fraud and corruption strategy 2016 to 2019’ (FFCL).

This strategy is aimed at council leaders, chief executives, finance directors, and all those charged with governance in local authorities. Everything about it is free, and it’s developed by councils for councils.

FFCL sets out the approach local authorities should take, and the main areas of focus from 2016 to 2019 in order to transform counter fraud and corruption performance. It also contains major recommendations for local authorities and other stakeholders. 

The strategy is now included in the University of Portsmouth bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Fraud as an example of good practice. It’s also included in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) research as an example of local collaboration.

It is produced as part of the Fighting Fraud and Corruption Locally initiative, a partnership between local authorities and key stakeholders, and succeeds the previous strategy, written in 2011. 

Working with local authorities to fight fraud

Cifas is committed to working with local authorities, and helping them in their fight against fraud. As such, we host the Board of the FFCL, and provide resource and infrastructure for the secretariat on a pro bono basis. 

As credible and respected experts in counter fraud, Cifas works with local authorities and relevant senior stakeholders to provide improved data sharing and access to cross-sector information, enabling them to tackle fraud effectively through our links with national boards such as the Joint Fraud Taskforce (JFT) and the Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce (JMLIT). 

Cifas also provides the Protecting the Vulnerable service to local authorities, helping them keep safe the personal details of vulnerable people in their care who may be targeted by fraudsters. 

Working with Cifas is a recommendation in the FFCL strategy. 

Upcoming events

15 January
FFCL Board meeting 
Cifas offices

24 January
Local Authority Cifas Fraud Briefing 
Cifas offices 

21 March
FFCL Conference and Awards 
Grant Thornton at 30 Finsbury Square, Moorgate, London 

For more information about these events please contact the secretariat.

FFCL’s Board 

The Board is made up of senior local authority representatives:   

• Charlie Adan – Chair and representing SOLACE and Chief Executives;
• Bevis Ingram – LGA;
• Clive Palfreyman – Finance Director LB Hounslow and the Society of London Treasurers;
• Nicole Wood – Director of Corporate Resources – Essex County Council and County Treasurers;
• Suki Binjal – Director of Law and Monitoring Officer at LB Hackney and Lawyers in Local Government;
• Mike Haley – Chief Executive at Cifas;
• Rachael Tiffen – Director of Local Government Fraud, at Cifas and FFCL secretariat;
• Paul Dossett – Partner at Grant Thornton; 
• Simon Bleckly – Audit and Fraud Manager at Salford and Warrington Councils;
• Mark Astley – Head of NAFN;
• Gareth Davies – Partner at Mazars;
• Andy Hyatt – Head of Fraud at Tri-Borough;
• Alison Morris – Policy Lead at MHCLG.

For further information about FFCL please contact the secretariat.

Latest blog posts