London boroughs all sign up to develop counter-fraud hub

All 32 London boroughs and the City of London are developing a counter-fraud hub that will seek to identify instances of fraud committed against local government in the capital.

The hub will also be able to investigate and recover funds on behalf of councils. It is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2016.

Edward Lord OBE, Chair of the Capital Ambition board, said: “The London Counter Fraud Hub is a fantastic example of London local government coming together in its entirety to address a critical loss of revenue at a time of unprecedented budget cuts.

“This has the potential to save local authorities significant sums of money and could prove a very good investment in the fight against fraud.”

Data held by participating councils will be fed into the hub before complex analytics are used to detect possible fraud for investigation.

Ealing Council is leading the project. Its Executive Director of Corporate Resources, Ian O’Donnell, said: “The London Counter Fraud Hub will realise significant benefits for residents by alleviating the cost of fraud.

“By bringing together all London local authorities and putting in place the latest technology, the hub will be able to maximise the significant opportunities arising from big data and advanced analytics.”

The hub is supported by London Ventures, a partnership between London Councils and EY which is part of the Capital Ambition programme. It was made possible by a grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The 32 London boroughs and the City of London have signalled their intention to participate in the hub by signing a memorandum of understanding.