Fraud in the public sector costs the taxpayers billions of pounds each year. Losses on this scale impact on the provision of public services.
East Ayrshire Council has a zero-tolerance approach to fraudulent or corrupt activity. We aim to prevent fraud wherever possible. Where detected we will investigate, whether perpetrated by employees, elected members, partner organisations, suppliers or service users.
Types of fraud
Fraud, or corrupt activity, may include:
- Employee fraud – theft, embezzlement, bribery
- Procurement and contract fraud – influencing the tender process, false/duplicate invoicing
- Blue badge fraud – fraudulent obtaining or misuse
- Council tax fraud – giving false information to get discounts or exemptions, not reporting a change in circumstances
- Business rate fraud – giving false information to get relief, or falsely declaring a property to be empty
- Tenancy fraud – giving false information to get housing, unlawful sub-letting, abandonment
- Insurance fraud – claiming for a non-existent incident or by inflating the cost of damages
- Scottish Welfare Fund – giving false information to obtain funds
Corporate fraud team
East Ayrshire Council and North Ayrshire Council have joined forces to stamp out fraud. The Corporate Fraud Team is a specialist investigative unit to prevent and detect frauds, or attempted frauds, against the Council. The team, based in Irvine, carries out investigations and with East Ayrshire Council takes any enforcement action that is necessary. This may include disciplinary action (fraud perpetrated by an employee), civil court action or criminal prosecution.
Reporting fraud
Anyone with information about suspected fraud should contact the Corporate Fraud Team. You do not have to give your name.