Fair Processing Notice regarding the Audit Commission’s National Fraud Initiative Data Matching Exercises

The Council has a duty to protect public money and one of the ways it does this is to use information it holds for the purposes of the prevention or detection of fraud. We also share information with other public bodies for these same purposes.

The Audit Commission is the government body which appoints someone to audit the Council. It also carries out data matching exercises.

Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body against other computer records held by the same or another body. This is usually personal information. Computerised data matching allows potential fraud to be identified. Where a match is found it indicates that there is an inconsistency which requires further investigation. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until an investigation is carried out.

The Audit Commission currently requires us to participate in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. We are required to provide particular sets of data to the Audit Commission for matching for each exercise, and these are set out in the Audit Commission’s guidance, which can be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi .

The use of data by the Audit Commission in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority under its powers in Part 2A of the Audit Commission Act 1998. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Data matching by the Audit Commission is subject to a Code of Practice. This may be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi/pages/codeofdatamatchingpractice.aspx .

For further information on the Audit Commission’s legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information, see www.audit-commission.gov.uk/fairprocessing . For further information on data matching at this authority please contact Alison Sands (Principal Auditor) on 0161 342 2355.

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Risk Management/Audit and Insurance Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne OL6 6DL  View local map
0161 342 2355
0161 342 3902