ALL public authorities in Cambridgeshire will soon be taking part in the National Fraud Initiative (NFI), a regular exercise aimed at preventing and detecting fraud by sharing and matching information held by local authorities and central government agencies and departments.

Every English local government body is required by law to participate in the exercise, which is carried out by the Audit Commission every two years.

It plays a vital role in ensuring that taxpayers’ money is not wrongly paid to people who knowingly cheat the system. Last year the programme helped trace �215million nationally in fraud, errors and overpayments and since it was launched in 1996, it has helped detect �664million.

Next month the Commission will be sent relevant personal information of anyone who is employed by a local council or school, receives a pension from the council, is an elderly resident of a care home receiving council financial support, or has recently submitted an insurance claim to the council.

Details will also be forwarded of anyone who holds a Blue Badge, a personal licence to supply alcohol, a market trader licence, a taxi-driver licence, a concessionary travel pass or a resident’s parking permit.

At a later stage, details will be passed on of anyone receiving Housing or Council Tax Benefit.

For a full list of information to be shared and more details of the exercise, visit http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi

Fenland District Council’s Fair Processing Notice can be found at http://www.fenland.gov.uk/ccm/content/audit/national-fraud-initiative.en