THURROCK Council’s fraud investigation team has returned 12 council homes to the authority and saved £576,000 reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
Latest figures for the first six months of 2024/25 show the team investigated 123 reports of suspected fraud, closing 81 cases after no evidence of fraud was found. It currently 67 investigations open. The team investigated the illegitimate use of council homes and returned 12 properties to the council’s housing stock so “those in need could be re-homed”.
In a report to the Audit committee which met on Thursday the fraud team said there had been “renewed focus on delivering training and knowledge across the authority, from employees to members but particularly towards the council’s public facing staff.
The report said: “The counter fraud investigation team have been engaging with high-risk areas, such as housing and social care, to ensure all employees that work within these high-risk areas are aware of the signs of fraud or unlawful behaviour.”
Speaking at the meeting, Michael Dineen, assistant director for counter fraud, enforcement and public protection, said educating staff had led to an initial increase in fraud reports. He said: “It’s on a downward trajectory in terms of reporting to five years ago however, we are seeing an increase. What we’re doing with staff and service areas means that we are starting to see an upward trajectory in referrals which is a good thing.
“You always get an increase before you get a plateau if you’re aiming to educate and push for reporting so that doesn’t concern me. The only concern I have is that criminals get smarter and therefore so does technology and we just have to keep fighting that fight in relation to different bits of technology and understanding where they’re moving.”
The report adds: The team are in place to investigate economic crime against the Council and ensure that the council does not fall victim to criminal behaviour as well as being the conduit to staff, councillors and our residents to report criminal activity to the correct departments.”
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