Epsom and Ewell Borough Council promotes a culture of openness within its core values and is opposed to any form of fraud.

We have a duty to protect public funds and wish to conduct our affairs in a spirit of honesty, integrity and openness. To this extent there are structures and procedures in place to assist in the fight against fraud and corruption.

Whistleblowing policy

Whistleblowing, also known as confidential reporting, is a way for employees of an organisation to raise reasonably and honestly held concerns, which they have about serious matters that could put the Council and/or the public at risk. The information provided is strictly confidential and whistleblowers do not have to give their name unless they want to. If a person does give their name, it will be kept confidential as per our Whistleblowing Policy. The policy is available to Council employees on the staff intranet.

Anti-fraud and anti-corruption strategy

Our Strategy acknowledges the threat of fraud; encourages prevention; promotes detection; identifies a clear pathway for investigations; and the steps that are taken to recover any losses. Importantly this document underlines the fact the Council takes a zero-tolerance approach to fraud. The Strategy can be downloaded below.

Anti-money laundering policy 

We have a duty to ensure procedures are in place to reduce the risk of the council being subject to the impact of money laundering which are laid out in this policy.The Policy can be downloaded below.

Anti-bribery policy

We are committed to the prevention and detection of bribery. We have a zero tolerance approach towards bribery and aim to maintain bribery compliance through business as usual approach, rather than a one off exercise. This policy details the arrangements made in the council for such concerns to be raised by employees or members of the public. The Policy can be downloaded below.

We also have other supporting documents including the Financial Regulations, Contract Standing Orders,  Members Code of Conduct and Officers Code of Conduct that all members, staff and suppliers have an obligation to comply with.

National Fraud Initiative (NFI)

We participate in the NFI data matching exercise overseen by the Government's Cabinet Office. The Council provide sets of data, including payroll. For further information please visit our data matching page.

Housing Benefit Fraud

From October 2015, all Housing Benefit Fraud responsibility transferred to Department for Work and Pensions. You can report suspected Housing Benefit Fraud in three ways:

Online - www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud

By phone - Contact the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440. Your call is free and confidential - you do not have to give your name or address. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.

By post -BFH, PO Box 224, Preston PR1 1GP

To report a fraud

If you would like to report a suspected fraud you can do so by sending us an e-mail to contactus@epsom-ewell.gov.uk. Alternatively for more detailed information on how to raise a particular concern, please see the relevant policy above.

Transparency information

• Number of occasions where we have had to use powers under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud (Power to Require Information) (England) Regulations 2014, and The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Detection of Fraud and Enforcement) (England) 2013: 19 
• Total number (absolute and full time equivalent) of employees undertaking investigations and prosecutions of fraud: 1
• Total number (absolute and full time equivalent) of professionally accredited counter fraud specialists: 2
• Total amount spent by the authority on the investigation and prosecution of fraud: £29,476
• Total number of fraud cases investigated (Apr 23 - Jan 24): 3