Anglia Revenues Partnership

Summary of Submission

The Anglia Revenues Partnership (ARP) Fraud and Compliance Team is a collaborative, intelligence-led service committed to protecting the public purse by preventing, detecting and investigating fraud and error. Since forming in 2015, the team has identified £43 million in fraud and error and recovered 144 social housing properties.

Working across five authorities and with 13 partner organisations, the team delivers a cost-effective service that maximises expertise, resources and best practice. Through the innovative use of data analytics, risk-based methodologies, digital tools and strong partnership working, the team investigates 13,000 NFI matches annually, reviews 10,000 Council Tax accounts and manages 1,000 fraud referrals each year.

In 2025/26 alone, the team identified over £4.8 million in savings across revenues and benefits and tenancy fraud, while securing six successful prosecutions. Its inclusive culture, commitment to continuous improvement and strong regional partnerships make ARP a recognised leader in fraud prevention, compliance and service excellence.

Hertfordshire Shared Anti-Fraud Service

Summary of Submission

The Hertfordshire Shared Anti-Fraud Service (SAFS) is an award winning and highly respected Anti-Fraud Partnership hosted by Hertfordshire County Council providing its services to local authorities and other public sector bodies across the Home Counties, London and the Eastern Region.

SAFS launched in 2015 as a two-year self-funding pilot. SAFS has been successfully protecting public funds for 11 years. There were originally 6 local authority partners, increasing to 8 by 2024.

SAFS is a centre of excellence and innovation. We are one of a very few local authorities with a Licence to Operate under the Government Counter Fraud Profession Practitioners Group, ensuring that our investigations meet the highest standards at all times.

SAFS services include fraud risk assessment, policy and process fraud-proofing, fraud awareness/prevention training, data services, complex fraud investigations in both civil and criminal arenas, specialist investigations involving high risk or sensitive matters, Financial Investigation and Anti-Money Laundering services.

London Borough of Enfield

Summary of Submission

Enfield Council implemented a targeted control framework to address significant subsidy risk within exempt accommodation, reducing Housing Benefit subsidy loss from £7.3 million in 2023/24 to £795,000 in 2025/26 and protecting more than £6.5 million of public funds. Through a structured prevent, detect and refer approach, the programme strengthened evidential requirements, introduced comprehensive compliance inspections and established robust escalation and enforcement pathways. Delivered through a whole-Council partnership involving Financial Assessments, Housing, Legal, Licensing, Planning and DWP partners, the initiative transformed a major corporate financial risk into a sustainable assurance framework. Live claims reduced from almost 1,400 at peak levels to 592, while maintaining support for vulnerable residents through proportionate, evidence-led decision making. The programme strengthened governance, improved audit assurance, enhanced fraud detection and created a scalable model that supports the national drive for stronger oversight of exempt accommodation and the protection of public funds.

London Borough of Waltham Forest

Summary of Submission

Protecting the Public Purse: Combating a High-Value Organised Fraud

What began as a single observation developed into an evidence-led response to a suspected organised Housing Benefit fraud involving a major private landlord. A review of 775 claims and approximately 15,000 documents identified significant risks, leading to a coordinated programme involving Benefits, Counter Fraud, Legal Services and external partners.

The project delivered substantial value for the public purse. Four claims were withdrawn, 51 awards were terminated, generating total estimated savings of £1.63 million. A further £1.22 million of overpayments was identified, while residents affected by identity misuse were supported and safeguarded.

Beyond the financial outcomes, the work strengthened fraud controls, improved investigative practices and created a repeatable model for identifying, investigating and disrupting complex fraud. Our approach demonstrates how local authorities can protect public funds, support vulnerable residents and respond proportionately to emerging fraud risks.

Oxford Investigation Service (Oxford City Council)

Summary of Submission

Oxford Investigation Service (OIS), Oxford City Council’s counter-fraud team, delivers exceptional protection of public funds through innovative prevention, detection and investigation of fraud across housing and public services. In 2025/26, the team generated and protected over £4.1 million, recovering 38 social homes, preventing 37 fraudulent housing applications, stopping 24 irregular or fraudulent Right to Buy applications, securing Unlawful Profit Orders and obtaining a £55,000 out-of-court settlement. With annual costs of approximately £600,000, the service achieved a return of at least £7 for every £1 invested. 

OIS combines specialist investigative expertise, self-developed data-matching technology, financial intelligence capability and strong partnership working with 35 organisations to identify and address fraud effectively. Through sector-leading knowledge sharing, including its nationally recognised Annual Fraud Conference, the team not only protects local resources but also helps raise counter-fraud standards across the wider public sector.

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council

Summary of Submission

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s Fraud and Financial Investigation Team protects the public purse through a proactive, intelligence-led and partnership-based counter-fraud service. 

The 17-strong team prevents, detects and investigates fraud, error and financial irregularities across RBBC, Surrey councils and wider partner organisations. Its work aligns with corporate priorities of good governance, financial resilience and fairness, focusing on preventing losses, recovering funds, applying sanctions and deterring future fraud. 

Prevention is prioritised through policy reviews, project advice, staff awareness and targeted data matching, including the National Fraud Initiative and IDIS. 

Investigations are conducted lawfully by trained officers recognised under the Government Counter Fraud Profession, supported by two accredited financial investigators. 

In 2025/26, the team investigated 2,613 cases, achieving 516 positive outcomes, five prosecutions and 26 further cases in court. Strong partnerships, governance, reporting and continuous learning help deliver measurable financial impact, safeguard services and maintain public confidence.