19 July 2005 - Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) Inspection Report on Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Blunkett, has today
published an inspection report by the BFI on Doncaster Metropolitan Borough
Council’s counter-fraud arrangements.
In 2003/04 Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council administered some £68
million in housing benefits, about 12 per cent of its gross revenue expenditure.
The council gives a high priority to combating benefit fraud and complies
with all significant aspects of the Security Against Fraud and Error scheme.
The council’s Investigations team is well supported by Members and
managers. BFI found a number of good practices, including:
· an experienced and well trained Investigation team
· a comprehensive suite of process control documents
· a comprehensive fraud management IT system with a well developed
reporting facility
· promoting good quality fraud referrals from a variety of sources,
particularly the Visits team, the Benefits team and the Department’s
Counter-Fraud Investigation Service
· setting and achieving demanding sanctions’ targets.
The council is providing a high standard counter-fraud service which performs
well. For example, from April to December 2004 eight cases were successfully
prosecuted and 30 formal cautions and 48 administrative penalties were raised.
BFI is concerned, however, about the extent of evidence that is gathered
during an interview before a caution is issued.
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
1. The BFI inspection at Doncaster Metropolitan Borough 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).
2. The main elements of the SAFE scheme 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
Press office: 0207 238 0866
BFI Press enquiries 01423 83 2982
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 0207 712 2171
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk