Developing Partnerships to Tackle Fraud
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Who we are
Munim Farid – Special Projects (Consultant)
Karen Lengthorn – Special Projects Manager
Carol Owen – A-FACT Manager Lewisham Council
Juliet Bennett – A-FACT Lewisham Council
Lewisham Homes in partnership with the Lewisham
Council’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Team (A-FACT) and
South East London Housing Partnership (SELHP)
Delivering great housing services for thriving neighbourhoods
Anti-Fraud & Corruption Policy
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Lewisham Homes has an approved Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy
through which it aims to eradicate fraud and corruption.
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Other Policies which strengthen its commitment include:
Code of Conduct Board Members and Employees
Gifts and Hospitality
Wired Working Policy
Whistle blowing
Register of Personal Interests (PO9+)
Maintenance of a Fraud Register
Introduction of an Acceptable Use Policy (inc phone monitoring and use of
CCTV
Delivering great housing services for thriving neighbourhoods
Partnership
• Local Authority
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A-FACT
Homeless Persons Unit
Housing Applications
Housing Benefit
Council tax
Registry Office
National Fraud Initiative
• London Borough of Southwark (SELHP)
• RSL’s
• Department of Works and Pensions
Delivering great housing services for thriving neighbourhoods
Prevention and Detection of Fraud
By Tenants:
• Occupancy Checks
• Detail Investigations ( A-FACT)
• Detail Investigations (South East London Housing Partnership)
• Including National Fraud Initiative
By Officers
• Any incidents relating to officers are sent to the Anti-Fraud &
Corruption Team to investigate and report back to Lewisham Homes
SMT
By Contractors and Suppliers
Delivering great housing services for thriving neighbourhoods
How we receive and investigate
referrals:
Receive from
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Fraud Hotline
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Tenants and members of the public writing in
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Suspicious tenancy activity
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Staff
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Repairs and caretaking staff
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Contractors undertaking gas checks
Use the following systems
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Data Analysis
 National Fraud Initiative
 Housing system
 Housing Benefit
 Council Tax
 Customer View ( Experian)
 Legal Landlord
 Land Registry
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Door Knocking
Delivering great housing services for thriving neighbourhoods
Results
Oct 09 to Mar 10
2010/11
Total Since October 09
Cases Opened
1218
1051
2269
Cases Closed
1133
601
1734
NTQ’s served
417
178
595
NTQ’s withdrawn
224
74
298
Genuine Occ’s
confirmed
908
535
1443
87
169
Properties Recovered
Rent owed
% Recovered
following Occ
Check
82
£
172,899.30
14.9%
£
124,658.34
12.1%
49 Legal cases
Delivering great housing services for thriving neighbourhoods
£
297,557.64
13.40%
Sanctions
Sub-Letting
• Civil Proceedings to recover property under Housing Act 1985
• Civil Proceedings under ‘Unjust Enrichment’ recent test case (November
2010) tenant ordered to pay £7,179.52 property repossessed
• Criminal Prosecution under Fraud Act 2006 (undertaken where evidence is
robust)
Officer Fraud:
• Disciplinary action leading to dismissal
• Criminal Prosecution
• Or both
Criminal Prosecution – may involve the use of Proceeds of Crime Act
Publicity of successes
Delivering great housing services for thriving neighbourhoods
Achieving it’s commitment
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Establishing an anti-fraud and corruption culture by:
Issuing and updating procedures
Publishing approach and successes
Training Board members, Managers and officers
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Future Training of the Staff will include:
ID Fraud and case studies
Immigration status rules
Rights of EU members to benefits within the UK
How to produce witness statements for criminal prosecutions
Delivering great housing services for thriving neighbourhoods
Finally together in partnership we
can…
Delivering great housing services for thriving neighbourhoods