A new code of practice designed to protect councils and others in the public sector from fraud has been launched.
Drawn up by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) following consultation with organisations across the sector, it is based around five core principles.
They include identifying fraud and corruption risks, developing an appropriate counter fraud and corruption strategy and providing the resources needed to implement it.
CIPFA chief executive Rob Whiteman said: ‘Fraud risks are a very real and ongoing threat to public services. Those governing and leading public sector bodies need to recognise the risks they face and make sure their organisation has all the tools it needs to respond effectively.
‘Resilience to fraud is essential when public funds are under so much pressure and budgets are so constrained. The new code sets out the standards all organisations should be aiming for and CIPFA stands ready to provide any further support and guidance that public sector bodies need.’
Ian O’Donnell, executive director of resources at London Borough of Ealing and a member of CIPFA’s counter fraud centre advisory board, said: ‘Fraud affects everyone across the public services and that the Code has been written for the wider counter fraud community is heartening.
‘I think it will be a useful tool for leaders to assess their resilience and capacity to tackle fraud.’