Organisations who receive public monies are encouraged to take part in a National Fraud Initiative to prevent and detect fraud. Apex is committed to tackling fraud and is taking part in an exercise to promote the proper spending of public money. Apex is required to protect the public funds we administer. We may share information provided to us with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds in order to prevent and detect fraud.
Apex is participating in an exercise with the Comptroller and Auditor General that the NI Housing Executive and other housing associations have been involved in. This will require Apex to submit information in relation to families, couples, single households and sheltered housing tenants – enabling individuals to be identified accurately. This information will be used in a data matching exercise which involves comparing computer records held by one body against other computer records held by other bodies to see how far they match; allowing potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. It may also identify incorrect payments being made as a result of genuine error. This exercise may indicate inconsistencies that require further investigation; however, no assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until further checks are carried out.
The use of data by the Comptroller and Auditor General in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority. It does not require the consent of individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.
Apex tenants may be contacted in the future if we need to carry out any follow up checks. However, if you have any further questions regarding this please contact Eilish Doherty, Apex Housing Manager.
Data Matching by the Comptroller and Auditor General is subject to a Code of Practice which can be viewed by accessing the Northern Ireland Audit Office website at www.niauditoffice.gov.uk and following the links for the National Fraud Initiative.