The UK government has announced what it claims is an ambitious plan to upgrade the skills of public sector workers to better detect and deter fraud.
A new counterfraud occupational strategy will be led by the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) announced late last year.
In addition to hiring new talent, the government said it would upgrade the skills of 7,000 anti-fraud professionals, including training 250 fraud risk professionals by the end of 2023.
The third pillar of the strategy is a new anti-fraud apprenticeship, scheduled to start in 2024, which will run alongside the existing fraud investigation apprenticeship.
“The challenges we face from fraud are severe. That is why the latest government anti-fraud professional strategies continue to strengthen the capabilities and expertise of those who fight hard to protect taxpayer money. We are proud to announce the launch.
Fraud is a major challenge across the UK, and the public sector is no exception, with many crimes becoming cyber-enabled.
According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), around £8.6 billion was lost in the 2021-2022 financial year due to benefit-related fraud and overpayments.
The government’s COVID-19 relief fund scheme has also been ruthlessly exploited by online scammers.
Over the two-year lifecycle of two major initiatives, the Self-Employed Income Assistance Scheme and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the government estimates fraud could have reached £6.4bn.
But another study from Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee suggests that figure could more than double that to £16 billion.
The Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP) was launched in 2018 and currently has 7,000 members in 48 organizations, including police and local governments.
However, with fraud against the public sector estimated at £33 billion a year, it is unclear whether the government’s new plans are ambitious enough.
Kingsley Napley’s professional support lawyer, Phil Taylor, says the PSFA’s £25m funding may not be enough.
“It is widely believed that implementing a common approach to tackling fraud is the most effective way to prevent people from becoming victims of fraud. Through data analysis and information sharing, the PSFA is expected to flatten the curve and have a greater impact on tackling fraud,” he said. I made the claim in a blog post.
“Only time will tell how effective this approach really is. that’s what you’re facing.”
