Democracy Spraffa

Item 5 NFI

Renfrewshire Council · 18 August 2025
Back to Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board — 18 August 2025 and its agenda

Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.

Original council PDF · Download plain text

Some pages contain no extractable text. They may be blank, graphics or scanned pages. OCR has not been applied.

Page 1

1 
___________________________________________________________________
To: Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board
On: 18 August 2025
___________________________________________________________________
Report by: Chief Auditor
___________________________________________________________________
The National Fraud Initiative 2024-2028 Strategy. 
___________________________________________________________________
1. Summary 
1.1 The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) is a counter-fraud exercise overseen
by the Cabinet Office for the UK as a whole. It is part of a range of
measures in place across the public sector which aim to prevent and
detect fraud 
1.2 The National Fraud Initiative 2024-2028 Strategy was published in
February 2025 by the Public Sector Fraud Authority and is attached at
Appendix 1. This strategy aims to enhance the NFI through innovation,
increased data access and insight, whilst maintaining the highest
standards of service quality and data security. By improving training and
support for participants and fostering greater engagement, it will
maximise fraud detection outcomes and build new counter fraud
partnerships across sectors. 
___________________________________________________________________ 
2. Recommendations 
2.1 It is recommended that the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board note the
National Fraud Strategy
_________________________________________________________

Page 2

2 
3. Background
3.1 Fraudsters relentlessly target public services, diverting vital resources
away from those who need them most. Public sector fraud and error
losses are estimated to be at least £55 billion annually and it is necessary
to be commited to tackling fraud to ensure that services reach those who
need them, particularly in areas like housing, benefits and social support.
3.2  The NFI aims to detect and prevent fraud and error through a national
data matching exercise across public bodies carried out by the Cabinet
Office and overseen, in Scotland, by Audit Scotland, with the aim of
identifying instances of possible fraud or error.  Overpayments that are
identified through the initiative allow public bodies to take appropriate
action to recover the money.
3.3 This strategy is published to demonstrate the commitment to focussing
on maximising fraud detection outcomes, building new counter-fraud
partnerships across sectors, and harnessing innovation, data access,
and insights over the next four years. This is to protect public services
and ensure that public funds are spent where they are needed most on
supporting communities, protecting vulnerable families, and delivering
homes and local services to those who deserve them.
__________________________________________________________________
Implications of the Report
1. Financial - The Council has in place arrangements to recover any
financial overpayments identified through the National Fraud Initiative.   
2. HR & Organisational Development - None 
3. Community Planning – 
Wealthier and fairer – The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) exercises
make a significant contribution to the security of public sector finances
by confirming that services are provided to the correct people and by
eliminating fraud and error.
4. Legal – None 
5. Property/Assets - None 
6. Information Technology - None
7. Equality & Human Rights - None

Page 3

3 
8. Health & Safety - None
9. Procurement - None
10. Risk – Priority is given to investigating matches with a higher risk of
fraud and error.
11. Privacy Impact – There is a requirement to take best reasonable
attempts to notify people of the NFI exercise as part of the preparation
for the national exercise.  This requirement has been complied with.
12. Cosla Policy Position – None
13. Climate Risk – None
14.  Children’s Rights - None
___________________________________________________________________ 
Author:           Karen Campbell, Interim Chief Auditor

Page 4

February 2025
National
Fraud
Initiative
2024 - 2028 Strategy

Page 5

Public Sector Fraud Authority
Publication date: February 2025
© Crown copyright February 2025
Produced by the Public Sector Fraud Authority.
You may re-use this information (excluding
logos) free of charge in any format or
medium, under the terms of the Open
Government Licence.
To view this licence, visit https://www.
nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-
government-licence/version/3/ or email: 
psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk
Where we have identified any third party
copyright material you will need to obtain
permission from the copyright holders
concerned.
Alternative format versions of the report are
available on request from the Public Sector
Fraud Authority: PSFA@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Page 6

Contents
Foreword 4
Executive Summary 6
Introduction 7
Context 7
National Fraud Initiative - a profile 7
Performance and impact 8
Growth of outcomes since 2015 9
Challenges and opportunities 9
Anticipating the future landscape 11
Creating the strategy 12
NFI Partnerships 13
Overview of the Strategy 14
Our vision statement 14
Our five objectives to achieve our vision 14
Working towards our objectives  14
Implementation and governance 16
Strategic alignment with the government fraud landscape 17
Contact 17
National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy   3

Page 7

Foreword
Fraudsters relentlessly target public services, diverting vital resources
away from those who need them most. In doing so, they undermine
fairness and trust, often denying families access to the housing and
local services support they rightfully deserve.
Public sector fraud and error losses are
estimated to be at least £55 billion annually
— a staggering figure that reflects the urgent
need to protect public resources. Reducing
fraud is not just a financial imperative, but a
matter of social justice. The government is
committed to tackling fraud to ensure that
services reach those who need them,
particularly in areas like housing, benefits and
social support.
It is for this reason the Public Sector Fraud
Authority is launching a National Fraud
Initiative (NFI) strategy for the next four years.
This strategy is published to demonstrate our
commitment to focussing on maximising
fraud detection outcomes, building new
counter-fraud partnerships across sectors,
and harnessing innovation, data access, and
insights over the next four years. These
efforts will be underpinned by a continued
commitment to the highest standards of
service quality and data security.
We will also work closely with the NFI
community to provide training, support, and
greater engagement, identifying new
opportunities to uncover fraud. By
strengthening our collective ability to protect
public services, we will ensure that public
funds are spent where they are needed most
on supporting communities, protecting
vulnerable families, and delivering homes and
local services to those who deserve them.
Alongside this strategy, the Public Sector
Fraud Authority is publishing its report on the
National Fraud Initiative results for 1 April
2022 to 31 March 2024. Participating
organisations have been able to prevent and
detect £510 million of fraud and error during
this period. This represents the highest ever
outcome for the NFI, surpassing the previous
record of £443 million in 2022, thanks to
increased collaboration with private sector
partners. Since its inception, the NFI has
helped detect and prevent nearly £3 billion of
fraud and error.
This work has highlighted a wide range of
cases including where fraudsters have
misrepresented their income, assets or existing
residency to access housing they are not
entitled to, this ensures social housing homes
are made available for those truly in need.
This would not have been possible without
the tenacity and dedication of staff across
public and private sector organisations. By
exposing fraudulent housing, blue badge,
council tax claims, their work ensures that
resources go to those most in need, restoring
fairness and trust in our systems.
Georgia Gould MP 
Parliamentary 
Secretary, 
Cabinet Office
4    National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy

Page 8

Public sector
fraud and error
losses are estimated
to be at least 
£55 billion annually
We will ensure that
public funds are
spent where they are
needed most
National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy   5

Page 9

Executive Summary
The NFI Vision Statement:
“To better detect and prevent fraud by utilising data and
technology from the public and private sector”.
1 As of March 2024.
1. The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) is a key
data service of the Public Sector Fraud
Authority. The NFI compares datasets to
identify inconsistencies that are indicators
of potential fraud. The results are
released securely through a web-based
application to 1,100 public and private
sector organisations that provide data for
further investigation.
2. The NFI has enabled these organisations
collectively to deliver cumulative savings
of £2.9bn1. Between April 2022 and
March 2024 alone, £510m was
prevented and detected/recovered
across the UK and performance is
increasing with each two-year cycle.
3. With fraud and error against the public
sector an ever-evolving threat, all those
working to fight fraud must respond and
adapt. The NFI strategy is firmly
committed to building on the success of
its history and through evolution and
innovation, ensuring it is fit for the future
too.
4. This strategy details how the NFI plans to
achieve this over the next four years with
a focus on:
• Evolve Our Products Through
Innovation
• Increase Data Access and Insights
• Uphold the Highest Standards of
Service Quality and Data Security
• Improve Training and Support
• Enhance Engagement to Maximise
Outcomes
5. Crucial to the delivery of this strategy are
the continuation and development of
strong collaborative partnerships across
sectors and across central, local, and
devolved governments which will be at
the heart of the NFI’s approach.
All those working
to fight fraud must
respond and adapt
6    National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy

Page 10

Introduction
2 Economic Crime Plan 2 2023-26
3 An Overview of the impact of fraud and error on public funds for the new Parliament 2023-24 November 2024.
Context
6. The Government is focussed on
delivering technology-enabled, mission-
driven and efficiency-focused projects to
realise its strategic ambitions to kickstart
economic growth and to lay strong
national security foundations.
7. Fighting fraud is key to this success as it
accounts for 41% of all crime in England
and Wales2. Fraud is a drain on the
economy, undermines public services
and is a threat to national security - the
government is firmly committed to
tackling it.
8. Public sector fraud and error loss is
estimated to be at least £55bn a year3.
Therefore, every pound of taxpayers’
money that can be saved by fighting
public sector fraud is a pound invested in
our public services, and a pound less in
the pocket of fraudsters.
9. The Public Sector Fraud Authority
(PSFA) works with departments and public
bodies to better understand and reduce
the impact of fraud against the public
sector. The PSFA data and analytics service
is a cornerstone of how we achieve this.
10. The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) is a
key part of the service and has a well-
established and proven track record of
success. We want to go even further, so
we are committed to continuing to evolve
the NFI informed by user feedback and
through regular reviews of the NFI
products. We will also explore
opportunities to exploit and adopt new
and innovative technologies, tools and
data sources to ensure we maximise our
counter fraud impact.
National Fraud Initiative - a profile
11. The NFI utilises data matching tools and
techniques to help in the prevention and
detection of fraud and error.
12. The NFI’s reach has evolved to support
over 1,100 public and private sector
organisations in enhancing their fraud
response through the use of data and
analytics.
13. The NFI’s data matching activities involve
comparing sets of data electronically,
such as the payroll records of a body,
against other records held by the same or
another body, to see to what extent they
match. The matching identifies
inconsistencies for investigation, allowing
potentially fraudulent claims and
payments to be identified.
14. Investigation by those receiving the
matches is crucial. No assumption can
be made as to whether there is fraud,
error or another explanation for those
matches until an investigation process is
completed, and an organisation can then
take the appropriate action. This may be
to prosecute cases of fraud, recover
overpayments, correct underpayments
and update records as appropriate.
15. The NFI provides multiple solutions,
ranging from real time point-of-application
fraud prevention checks, through to the
national batch data matching exercise,
which helps those that take part detect
active fraud cases within systems.

Page 11

Performance and impact
16. The NFI has an unparalleled track record of delivering measurable outcomes in response
to emerging fraud and error risks. This strategy commits us to evolve from and build on
this record, most crucially on how we use data analytics to identify and recover more fraud.
17. Since its creation, the NFI has delivered cumulative savings of £2.9bn. Between April
2022 and March 2024 alone, £510m was prevented and detected/ recovered across the
UK of which £477.5m was in England - the NFI’s best ever result.
Savings into context
£477.5m would contribute to 18.8% of Local Authority 
budgeted expenditure on Housing services4
4  Based on Local Authority budgeted expenditure on Housing services (excluding Housing Revenue Account) in the year
of 2024/5.
Examples of outcomes from the 2022-2024 National Exercise
Fraud-risk area Impact
Pensions
For pensions, the NFI’s data matching
identifies instances where individuals
obtaining pension payments relating to a
deceased person (known as mortality
srceening).
In the 2022/24 reporting period, in
England alone, 6,194 pension
cases were identified totalling
£179.4m.
Council Tax (Single Person
Discount)
The NFI’s data matching identifies
instances where an individual falsely
claims they live alone, in order to receive
Single Person Discount (SPD), despite
cohabiting with another individual.
In England alone, the outcomes
from both previous two National
Exercises (2022/23 and 2023/24)
were £51.9m in detected and
prevented fraud.
Private Sector
The NFI works with a number of private
sector bodies to facilitate use of NFI data
to help them prevent and detect fraud.
Car rental businesses, insurance
companies and the water industry have
utilised insights from the NFI data in this
way as part of their normal business
processes.
Between 2022/24, this resulted in
£137.8m of fraud being prevented
or detected. This includes
highlighting where applicants for
services misrepresented their
identity, or their residency.
8    National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy

Page 12

NFI 2022/23
£510m
NFI 2020/21
£443m
NFI 2018/19
£245m
NFI 2016/17
£292m
NFI 2014/15
£222m
5 Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014
6 Code of Data Matching Practice for the National Fraud Initiative
7 Economic Crime Plan 2, 2023-26 - pg.4
Growth of outcomes since 2015
18. The NFI is, and continuously aims to be,
cost neutral to central government,
funding its activities (including pay)
through fees levied on participants and
charged-for services. This represents
strong value for money for not just the
taxpayer but also for the NFI’s
participants through nationally
coordinated data matching exercises and
providing a data analytics solution that
multiple organisations can benefit from.
19. Data security and the proportionality of
data usage is a priority for the NFI. The
collection of data is mandated under the
Local Audit and Accountability Act 20145,
which is underpinned by a Code of Data
Matching Practice6. The Code’s purpose
is to explain the NFI’s data matching
activities, give guidance to those involved
in data matching and to promote good
practice in data matching.
Challenges and opportunities
The current landscape
20. Economic crime is ever-evolving and, as
set out in the government’s most recent
Economic Crime Plan7, it is a rapidly
growing and increasingly complex threat
to UK national security and prosperity. It is
because of this reality that we are focused
on greater fraud prevention, identification
of potential fraud and consistent
collaboration, in order to tackle fraud at
the first possible opportunity.
21. Access to, and utilisation of, data analytic
tools and products that can identify
potential fraud and help prevent it are
critical in moving towards this
preventative future. We are committed to
evolving the NFI in a way that best
harnesses data and analytics to better
detect and prevent fraud.
22. User feedback from NFI national surveys
has consistently highlighted that NFI
participants are seeking faster
technology-based and data-driven
solutions, which can be embedded into
their internal controls and processes.
Participants want to be able to use a more
bespoke solution that can be tailored to
meet their local needs and is reflective of
potential resourcing pressures.
National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy   9

Page 13

Acknowledging current opportunities and
challenges
23. It is important to consider the following
opportunities, and challenges, that are
present in the current landscape to help
inform the NFI’s future direction:
• One of the NFI’s greatest strengths is
that its data provides a ‘point in time
snapshot’, matching data from over
1,100 organisations. This both
generates economies of scale and
addresses risks for a majority of
organisations. However, it also
presents challenges in that it is only
refreshed on a periodic basis. So,
whilst this approach allows for robust
fraud and error detection, it limits the
effectiveness of fraud and error
prevention work in real-time. The
frequency and quality of NFI data will
be key for us to consider moving
forward;
• The NFI has the existing technology
to access, match and share data on
a more automated basis using
Application Programming Interfaces
or Secure File Transfer Protocols.
Where possible, the NFI will explore
how this technology can be
embedded with NFI participants.
However, a large proportion of
participants do not have the IT
infrastructure to accommodate such
forms of data sharing. We will work to
pilot and demonstrate the
effectiveness of a more automated
approach with organisations who can
facilitate this technology, and promote
it where possible;
8 NFI - Public Sector Case Studies
• The NFI has developed innovative
products, such as FraudHub, that
enables participants to tailor their
approach to ongoing and emerging
fraud risks and provides more real-
time data matching. The NFI will
further enhance these products to
enable them to be at the forefront in
offering accessible data matching in
real-time; and
• The NFI currently maintains a cost-
neutral financial model, meaning
that all expenditure in running the
NFI’s services is recharged through
the fees paid by NFI participants. This
represents strong value for money for
not just the taxpayer but also for the
NFI’s participants, who see a strong
return on their investment8. For
example, in the last National Exercise
(2020-22), the NFI generated £443m
in outcomes against £3m in
operational costs, representing a
return on investment of 1:147 - a
large increase on the previous
reporting period (2018-20) which was
1:87 (£245m in outcomes against
£2.8m in costs). We are committed to
maintaining significant return on
investments and aim to go even
further.
The NFI currently
maintains a 
cost-neutral
financial model
10    National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy

Page 14

Anticipating the future landscape
Exploring the opportunities and
challenges
24. This strategy will demonstrate how we
can evolve and build upon what the NFI
has already delivered. We also know that
in order to evolve, we cannot simply do
more of the same, and must anticipate
how emerging fraud risks will evolve.
25. As a result, the NFI has considered what
the future landscape of fraud could look
like, and therefore the role data matching
can have in addressing it. The strategy
has been designed with a focus on
addressing these challenges in order to
mitigate their impact, whilst aiming to
maximise the outcomes we can achieve:
a. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other
technological developments - The
role AI and technology will play in the
prevention and detection of fraud will
undoubtedly be significant. The NFI is
committed to identifying how to best
utilise AI methodologies. The NFI will
further explore existing tools, such as
Predictive Analytics, and new
technologies to assist in the early
identification of fraud and error and
enable more efficient data matching
(for example, reducing false positives
and better prioritising matches for
review);
b. Private sector collaboration - The
Economic Crime Plan 2 (2023-26)9
emphasises the continued
importance of partnerships between
public and private sector actors, so
that they can address the same
priorities in tackling economic crime.
The NFI endorses and is committed
to following this approach and will
continue to pursue more data-sharing
pilots with private sector partners,
9  Economic Crime Plan 2, 2023-26 - pg.57-62
subject to compliance with the
necessary legal and governance
requirements, and build upon our
already proven track-record of
working in this sector to detect and
prevent fraud.
c. NFI public sector engagement and
capability - Although technology is
critical, the NFI’s success in
identifying potential fraud is reliant on
human intervention and the need for
capable, informed counter fraud
specialists in public organisations,
particularly local authorities and NHS
bodies. It is because of this, the NFI
will launch a new engagement
strategy across 2024-28. We will
work with the wider PSFA to identify
ways in which counter fraud capacity
and capability for public sector
organisations can be better
supported.
National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy   11

Page 15

Creating the strategy
26. Acknowledging both the current fraud
landscape, and exploring the future one,
are integral as to how the NFI has
developed this strategy.
27. The NFI’s 2022 Survey asked a series of
questions to understand the views, and
therefore needs of our customers. The
survey sought views on several thematic
areas, such as overall satisfaction, the
NFI product functionality, value for money
and both current and future strategic
direction. The survey was completed by
346 individuals, with the majority of
responses (68%) being from local
government.
28. The feedback from the survey highlights
that several areas of good progress have
been made in recent years, for example:
a. Customer satisfaction has
continued to increase, with 76% of
respondents agreeing10 that the NFI
supports delivery of their
organisation’s anti-fraud strategy. This
builds on an average of 67% from
previous surveys;
b. Confidence in the NFI’s services has
also continued to increase, with 69%
agreeing the NFI is a valuable tool to
demonstrate that an organisations’
controls and compliance are robust
with 67% supporting the frequency of
the National Exercise; and for
c. Risk management and scoring,
65% of respondents said they
regularly use the NFI’s risk scores to
prioritise their work for the purpose of
data-matching.
10 ‘Agree’ categories include “somewhat agree, agree, strongly agree”.
11  Over 40 Local Authorities that are active members of the NFI’s FraudHub and the strategy’s vision and objectives were
shared with all NFI participants for their views.
29. Although positive, and shows that the
NFI’s evolving approach and
improvements has support, there is still
much more that we can do to improve
participant satisfaction, value for money
and user confidence. As a result, these
themes have informed the basis for the
strategy’s objectives and the actions
underpinning them.
30. Input to develop the strategy has been
sought from a range of local authorities11
and counter fraud experts in Audit Wales
and the Northern Ireland Audit Office.
This provides confidence that the NFI’s
2024-28 strategy represents the views of
the NFI’s users.
31. The strategy has been signed-off and
endorsed by the Chief Executive of the
PSFA, Mark Cheeseman OBE.
The feedback 
from the survey
highlights that several
areas of good progress
have been made in
recent years
12    National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy

Page 16

NFI Partnerships
32. The NFI has developed a collaborative
partnership with its data-matching
services IT Supplier, Synectics Solutions.
Together, we have created bespoke
solutions to highlight potentially
fraudulent activity where citizens falsify
residency or other relevant personal
information.
33. The partnership places innovation and
collaboration at the forefront, with both
committed to developing the NFI and
associated products to maximise the
benefits for participants. It also enables
the NFI to continue to benefit from the
expertise and understanding Synectics
Solutions has gained from working with
clients across the finance, insurance,
automotive, public sector and private
sectors.
34. Data for the NFI is provided by some
1,100 participating organisations from
the public and private sectors including
local authorities, government
departments, private registered providers
of social housing (also known as housing
associations) and pension schemes.
35. As voluntary participants, private sector
organisations are able to match against
data within the NFI secure environment.
This allows them to gain insight that
helps them target their fraud risks, for
example, declaring false information to
access a product, service, benefit, etc.
36. The NFI works with public audit agencies
in all parts of the UK. The NFI also brings
together data on behalf of devolved
governments in Northern Ireland,
Scotland and Wales. As a result, the NFI
is ideally placed to be a UK leader in the
matching of data to detect, prevent and
recover fraud and error and is keen to
work with more organisations to help
deliver this.
National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy   13

Page 17

Overview of the Strategy
37. The intention of this strategy is to commit to and set out the NFI’s agenda for the next
four years, giving a clear vision for both new and existing users. It is also intended that
this strategy provides a holistic approach to data matching built upon public and private
partnerships.
Our vision statement
38. Our vision statement aims to articulate the NFI’s ambition to tackle fraud and error
through improved access to data and analytics techniques via sophisticated fraud
prevention and detection solutions. In turn, this will help ensure the right outcomes for
taxpayers across the UK.
Vision Statement:
“To better detect and prevent fraud by utilising data and
technology from the public and private sector”.
Our five objectives to achieve our vision
39. The strategy sets out five ambitious objectives which, over the next four years, will put the
NFI on its strongest footing to help deliver benefits to public sector bodies in their fight
against fraud.
Evolve Our
Products
Through
Innovation
Maximise the
Use and
Insight of
Data
Uphold the
Highest
Standards of
Service
Quality and
Data Security
Improve
Training and
Support
Enhance
Engagement
to Maximise
Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
Working towards our objectives
40. Each objective is underpinned by a series of specific, measurable actions to help ensure
that the relevant objective can be delivered in a practical way.
41. Each objective is supported by specific actions that articulate how we will enhance our
services, products and data matching techniques
14    National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy

Page 18

1 Objective One: Evolve Our Products Through Innovation
• We will develop and deliver high impact biennial National Exercises that achieve
significant counter fraud outcomes for taxpayers and participants;
• We will evaluate and integrate new tools and advanced technologies into our
products, including AI and machine learning, making them easy to use and
meeting the future needs of our participants; and
• We will provide increased opportunities for voluntary participation and the use of
the NFI’s products to help maximise fraud outcomes across the public and private
sector.
2 Objective Two: Increase Data Access and Insight
• We will ensure that the highest-value NFI datasets are refreshed more regularly
to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of data matches;
• We will deliver a pipeline of data-matching pilots that will identify and evaluate
new data sources that demonstrate clear counter fraud potential and address the
new and evolving fraud risks of NFI participants before wider implementation; and
• We will improve our matching techniques to reduce false positives and
improve the prioritisation of data matches by refining matching rules, and risk
scoring through predictive analytics.
3 Objective Three: Uphold the Highest Standards of Service Quality and Data Security
• We will undertake an annual review with our stakeholders and the technology
sector to identify opportunities for service and product improvement and seek
regular feedback; and
• We will prioritise our internal and external data security, policy and governance
mechanisms to protect and safeguard the data we are trusted to hold.
4 Objective Four: Improve Training and Support
• We will expand the NFI’s participant training programme to provide bespoke
learning and a full induction for all new contacts within six months of appointment;
• We will provide a dedicated support service and provide quality guidance for
participants; and
• We will deepen the NFI Team’s counter fraud and data analytics expertise through
targeted training and development opportunities, allowing us to better support
participants.
5 Objective Five: Enhance Engagement to Maximise Outcomes
• We will deliver an engagement plan and programme for our participants to
co-design our products and pilots, enhance collaboration and maximise outcomes;
and
• We will engage and share best practices on the matching of data with
national and international public sector organisations in order to create new
partnerships and collaboration opportunities.
National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy   15

Page 19

Implementation and governance
42. The NFI will be accountable for the
delivery of the strategy. The NFI will
publish annual targets, where applicable,
for the five objectives in a PSFA annual
delivery plan. Progress against the
delivery of each action in the strategy will
be overseen by a governance process
within the NFI and PSFA. This has been
set out below:
• Progress will be formally reviewed by
the Head of the NFI on a bi-annual
basis. This be done using a bespoke
monitoring log, which will include
specific, internal targets to ensure
delivery is on-track;
• Any issues or blockers will be
escalated to the NFI Governance
Board, which is chaired by the Head
of Data and Intelligence of the PSFA;
• The NFI will publish an update on
the delivery of the strategy as part of
its biennial NFI National Reports. This
will provide a public opportunity to
highlight the significant achievements
of our participants, share best
practice through case studies, and
be transparent about where further
action is required.
• The first update on progress against
this 2024-2028 strategy will be
published in the 2026 National
Report and then in 2028, at both the
mid and end stages of the strategy’s
lifecycle.
Progress will be
formally reviewed by the
Head of the NFI on 
a bi-annual basis
16    National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy

Page 20

Strategic alignment with the government
fraud landscape
43. This strategy aligns with the
government’s commitment to ensuring
that public resources are used efficiently
and that public services are delivered
effectively. Combating fraud and
corruption will assist in the mission to
kickstart economic growth and reduce
the national security threat.
44. This strategy will also enable the PSFA to
meet its commitments within the
Economic Crime Plan (ECP) and the
recommendations of the Fighting Fraud
Corruption Locally Strategy for the
2020s, by modernising the fraud and
error response, widening access to tools
and technology and increasing public-
private data sharing.
45. The PSFA has also published several
external strategies and policy documents,
such as its mandate, the Government
Counter Fraud Profession Strategy and
2023/24 Delivery Plan - the totality of
which sets out the PSFA’s role,
responsibilities and strategic direction.
46. In doing so, the NFI has ensured that its
vision, objectives and actions are
mutually compatible with PSFA’s macro-
level mission statements to:
a. Modernise the fraud and error
response by widening access, and
use of, leading practices, tools and
technology - better protecting
taxpayers money;
b. Build expert led services that
collaborate with experts in Departments
and Public Bodies to better fight fraud
and error through risk, prevention,
data and enforcement techniques;
c. Develop capability in the public
sector to find, prevent and respond
to fraud and error - both
organisationally and individually;
d. Put performance at the heart of the
public sector fraud conversation
- focusing on investments and
outcomes; and
e. We will aim to be seen as a beacon
of fraud and error expertise and a
destination for those wanting to make a
difference in fighting public sector fraud.
Contact
For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact the National Fraud
Initiative at nfiqueries@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
We also invite you to browse through the NFI’s publications on GOV.UK, including our
national reports, press releases and information about our operation and services.
National Fraud Initiative, 2024 - 2028 Strategy   17

Page 21

No embedded text on this page.