Government crackdown on public sector fraud saves £7.53bn, says Cabinet Office

New measures will also include the launch of the Public Authorities Fraud Investigation and Enforcement Service to track down COVID-era losses and future fraud.

Through work with local authorities and data-matching tools like the National Fraud Initiative (NFI), fraudulent claims have been identified by comparing records across the public sector, “benefitting local communities who have seen public funds returned to those in genuine need”, the Cabinet Office said.

In Hillingdon Council, 15 council houses have been recovered in the past year alone, with more than 100 fraudulent housing applications removed from the waiting list.

The Government announced it is also “intensifying” its hunt for COVID-related fraud, with almost £400 million in savings delivered to date.

It said: “This effort is being supported by the public, with the COVID Fraud Reporting Site receiving over 770 reports regarding potential fraud in pandemic spending, since launching in September.”

Meanwhile, the Government will establish the Public Authorities Fraud Investigation and Enforcement Service by 2026-27.

The Cabinet Office said the new service is recruiting highly skilled investigators, specifically tasked with pursuing the recovery of fraud against the public sector.

Cabinet Office Minister, Satvir Kaur, said: “This government is making the biggest investment ever to tackle public sector fraud, and that investment is now delivering real results for the taxpayer. Every pound stolen by fraudsters is a pound taken away from our schools, our hospitals, and our communities.

“By using better data and hiring more expert investigators, we are finding and stopping fraud faster than ever before. We are relentless in our commitment to protect the public's money and ensure it is used to deliver the high-quality services that people across Britain rely on every day.”