Corporate Fraud Team privacy notice
Who we are and what we do
Corporate Fraud Team
Internal Audit and Risk, Gateshead Council, Civic Centre, Gateshead, NE8 1HH
0191 433 2805
fraudreporting@gateshead.gov.uk
Gateshead Council is opposed to fraud and corruption in all forms and advocates a zero-tolerance approach. Fraud and corruption cheats the local tax payer and undermines the aims of our council to achieve its vision of 'Making Gateshead a place where everyone thrives', by providing value for money services in an open, honest and accountable way.
Where any instances of fraud are discovered the council will take all action as is necessary to hold perpetrators to account and reduce losses to an absolute minimum. The Corporate Fraud Team help investigate and assist with any fraudulent activity.
What type of information is collected about you
To assist with fraud investigations we may collect:
- name
- contact details (addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and so on)
- date of birth
- National Insurance number
- details of family and household members
- financial information
- current employment and employment history
- identity information (such as passports, driving licences, birth certificates)
- vehicle information
- photographs and video footage
We may also collect health information, such as evidence of injuries for an insurance claim or evidence to assist investigations into potential blue badge fraud or direct payment fraud.
The legislation that allows us to collect this information is:
- Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Detection of Fraud and Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013
- Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act (Power to Require Information) (England) Regulations 2014
- Local Government Finance Act 1992
- Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
- Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act 1996
- Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
- Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
The legislation that allows us to prosecute is:
- Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Detection of Fraud and Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013
- Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act (Power to Require Information) (England) Regulations 2014
- The Fraud Act 2006
- Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1987
- Computer Misuse Act 1990
- Identity Card Act 2006
- The Bribery Act 2010
- Welfare Reform Act 2012
- Housing Act 1996
- Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
- Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
The information we collect may be received from:
- application forms and supporting information we already hold
- paper forms
- online information
- communications with yourself
- third parties/external organisation
fraud referrals received into the Corporate Fraud Team
Why we need your information
We need this information to allow the council to prevent, detect and prosecute fraud. We have a duty to protect the public purse and to ensure that we continue to maintain strong defences against fraud and corruption by directing resources most effectively to mitigate the risks we face.
We also have to verify the information you have supplied is correct and accurate and where necessary, we will do this by verifying your information with other local authorities and government departments, for example.
Who your information can be shared with
Your personal information can be shared if the law allows. We may also enter into specific information sharing arrangements with partners such as local authorities where it would support our statutory functions.
We may also share personal information with (and receive information from) a number of other organisations as part of our prevention and detection of fraud. Such organisations may include the Police, Home Office, Cabinet Office, DWP, Registered Social Landlords and local authorities. Any information sharing is managed in accordance with relevant privacy and data protection legislation.
How long we will keep your information
We review our retention periods of the information we hold about you on a regular basis. We are legally required to hold some types of information to fulfil our statutory obligations. We will hold your personal information on our systems for as long as it is necessary for the relevant activity or service that we provide to you, or as required by law.
Marketing and e-newsletters
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.
Business intelligence, profiling and automated-decision making
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.
Protecting your information
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.
Your information choice and rights
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.
Information Commissioner's Office
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.