Key Service Telephone Numbers
National Fraud Initiative
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. It may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud. The Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) audits the accounts of this Council.
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 National Fraud Initiative involves the collection of personal data. Computerised data matching allows fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. Where a match is found, it may indicate 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.
The Council participates in the National Fraud Initiative to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. It is required to provide additional personal data to the Comptroller and Auditor General or his agent for data matching under legislative powers included in the Audit and Accountability (NI) Order 2003, articles 4A to 4H. The Council are required to provide particular sets of data to the Comptroller and Auditor General for matching. Details are set out on the NIAO’s website.
The use of data by the Comptroller and Auditor General in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 2018.
For further information on the Comptroller and Auditor General’s legal powers and the reasons why he matches particular information, see NIAO website https://www.niauditoffice.gov.uk/national-fraud-initative.
For further information on data matching at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, see the Councils Privacy Notice issued on 7 June 2018; http://www.newrymournedown.org/media/uploads/privacy_notice.pdf.
Contact Us
The Council contact for the National Fraud Initiative is Gerard Byrne
Tel: 028 3031 3140,