Trent & Dove Housing Limited is required by law 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.

Therefore it is the intention that Trent & Dove Housing participates in the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) data matching exercises carried out by the Audit Commission. Our participation in the NFI will assist in the prevention and detection of fraud against us and organisations within the public sector. We will participate on a voluntary basis and provide the Audit Commission with particular sets of data for matching as set out in the Audit Commission’s guidance which can be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi  

Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body against other computer records held by the same or another body to see how far they match. This is usually personal information. Where a match is found it indicates that there is an inconsistency which requires further investigation. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until an investigation is carried out.

Past involvement in such computerised data matching has enabled irregular employments, fraudulent claims and improper payments to be identified. Trent & Dove Housing has therefore agreed to participate in the exercise. 

The use of data by the Audit Commission in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority under its powers in Part 2A of the Audit Commission Act 1998. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Data matching by the Audit Commission is subject to a Code of Practice. This can be found at:  www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi/codeofdmp.asp .

For further information on the Audit Commission’s legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information, see;

http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi/fptext.asp  

For further information on data matching and the role of Trent & Dove Housing Limited,
please contact:

John Imber, Information Systems Manager,
Email: enquiries@trentanddove.org   

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