22 September 2005 - Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) Inspection Report on Bridgnorth District Council
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Blunkett, has today published an inspection report by the BFI on Bridgnorth District Council’s counter-fraud arrangements.
In 2004/05, Bridgnorth District Council administered some 8.3 million pounds in housing benefits, about 31 per cent of its gross revenue expenditure. The council was one of nine councils inspected by BFI as part of its examination of local authorities’ response to the Security Against Fraud and Error (SAFE) scheme.
Bridgnorth District Council had a strong anti-fraud culture and gave a high priority to combating benefit fraud. It had a history of prosecuting fraudsters even before the introduction of financial incentives through the SAFE scheme.
Benefit assessment staff generated a high number of fraud referrals and there were a number of good practices within the Fraud Team, such as well-structured interviews under caution. Although there were no written procedures covering counter-fraud work and limited management checking, the Fraud Team was well motivated and had achieved a high output of sanctions and prosecutions, particularly in relation to the caseload. This was very impressive in comparison with other similar sized local authorities. There were some weaknesses in earlier fraud investigations but BFI was satisfied that these had since been addressed. BFI was also satisfied that payments under the SAFE scheme had been properly claimed.
Some improvement was needed in the way that fraud files were maintained and in the recording of decisions on sanctions. The council also needs to do more to recover administrative penalties and publicise successful prosecutions.
BFI is an independent unit within the Department for Work and Pensions that reports directly to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the standard of benefit administration and counter-fraud activity.
James Plaskitt, Minister for Housing Benefit and Anti-Fraud, announced the publication of the report in a written ministerial statement.
Notes to Editors
- The BFI inspection at Bridgnorth District Council covered only the council’s arrangements for countering fraud, taking account in particular, of the council’s compliance with the Department for Work and Pensions’ Security Against Fraud and Error (SAFE) scheme.
- The main elements of the SAFE are:
- prevention – offering higher incentive payments to local authorities that comply with the Verification Framework, as recognition of their efforts to prevent fraud entering the system
- detection – offering incentive payments to local authorities for the identification of both fraud and error overpayments
- sanctions and prosecutions – offering incentive payments to local authorities, not only for successful prosecutions but also for issuing an administrative penalty or formal caution.
- Each BFI inspection report is considered by the Secretary of State who decides whether any further action is appropriate. The Secretary of State has powers to issue directions to a local authority to secure acceptable or minimum standards in performance.
- Media copies of the BFI inspection report can be obtained from the Department for Work and Pensions Press Office on 020 7238 0866.
- All BFI inspection reports can be found on the BFI website – www.bfi.gov.uk.
Department for Work and Pensions Press enquiries: 020 7238 0866
BFI Press enquiries: 01423 83 2982
Out of Hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk