Introduction
1.1 Chorley Council and South Ribble Borough Council are committed to promoting a strong ethical and counter fraud culture. This anti-fraud and corruption strategy is the mechanism for achieving this commitment and in particular, aims to reduce losses to fraud and corruption in all areas of the Councils to an absolute minimum.
1.2 Both Councils have a wide range of policies and procedures which aim to prevent fraud, bribery and corruption and these include:
- Contracts Procedure Rules,
- Financial Procedure Rules
- Local Code of Corporate Governance;
- Codes of Conduct for Employees
- Codes of conduct for Elected Members;
- Capability and Conduct Policy;
- Whistleblowing Policy;
- Anti-Money Laundering Policy;
- Information Security Framework
1.3 This strategy adheres to the CIPFA Code of Practice - Managing the Risk of Fraud and Corruption (2014) and the four key themes of the Local Government Fraud Strategy - Fighting Fraud & Corruption Locally.(2020). The Code requires leaders of public sector organisations to have a responsibility to embed effective standards for countering fraud and corruption in their organisations in order to support good governance and demonstrate effective financial stewardship and strong public financial management.
| CIPFA - Managing the Risk of Fraud & Corruption | Fighting Fraud & Corruption Locally |
|---|---|
| Acknowledge the responsibility of the governing body for countering fraud and corruption | Govern - Having robust arrangements and executive support to ensure anti-fraud, bribery and corruption measures are embedded throughout the organisation. Having a holistic approach to tackling fraud is part of good governance |
| dentify the fraud and corruption risks | Acknowledge - Acknowledging and understanding fraud risks and committing support and resource to tackling fraud in order to maintain a robust antifraud response. |
|
Develop an appropriate counter fraud and corruption strategy Provide resources to implement the strategy |
Prevent - Preventing and detecting more fraud by making better use of information and technology, enhancing fraud controls and processes and developing a more effective anti-fraud culture. |
| Take action in response to fraud and corruption. | Pursue - Punishing fraudsters and recovering losses by prioritising the use of civil sanctions, developing capability and capacity to investigate fraudsters and developing a more collaborative and supportive local enforcement response. |