National Fraud Initiative 2008 -09

The Affinity Sutton group and its operating companies, including Broomleigh Housing Association, Downland Housing Association and William Sutton Homes, are required by law to protect the public funds each administers. They may share information provided to them with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.

Affinity Sutton Group and its operating companies therefore intend to participate in the 2008 National Fraud Initiative (NFI) data matching exercise carried out by the Audit Commission. Our participation in the NFI will assist in the prevention and detection of fraud against Affinity Sutton Group and its operating companies and organisations within the public sector. We will participate on a voluntary basis and provide the Audit Commission with particular sets of data for matching as set out in the Audit Commission’s guidance which can be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi.

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. Where a match is found it indicates that there is an inconsistency which requires further investigation. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until an investigation is carried out.

Past involvement in such Computerised data matching has enabled irregular employments, fraudulent claims and improper payments to be identified.   The Group’s Audit Committee has therefore agreed to participate in the 2008 exercise.

The use of data by the Audit Commission in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority under its powers in Part 2A of the Audit Commission Act 1998. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Data matching by the Audit Commission is subject to a Code of Practice. This can be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi/codeofdmp.asp.

For further information on the Audit Commission’s legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information, see http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi/fptext.asp.

For further information on data matching in the Affinity Sutton Group, please contact Vijay Patel, Head of Group Business Assurance and Risk. Email: vijay.patel@affinitysutton.com, Tel: 020 7378 5506