We are required by law to protect the public funds we manage. To help prevent and detect fraud, we may share information with other public bodies responsible for:
- auditing public funds
- administering public services
- carrying out public functions
What is the National Fraud Initiative (NFI)?
The National Fraud Initiative is a data-matching exercise run by the Cabinet Office. It compares electronic records from different organisations to identify potential fraud.
Data matching helps to:
- detect fraudulent claims and payments
- identify inconsistencies that may need further investigation
A match does not automatically mean fraud has occurred. It simply highlights information that may need to be reviewed.
Our legal basis
We are required to take part in the NFI under part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. This means:
- we must provide specific sets of data to the Cabinet Office
- we do not need consent from individuals to share this data, it is compliant under the Data Protection Act 2018
Data matching is carried out in line with the Code of Data Matching Practice.
Further information
To learn more about the Cabinet Office’s legal powers and why it matches data, visit: