Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Accepted
Develop cross-government communication strategy highlighting efforts in pursuing fraudsters and counter-fraud effectiveness.
Conclusion
Government is not generating enough of a deterrence effect from pursuing those that commit fraud against the public purse. Most of government’s investigatory and enforcement capability sits in HM Revenue & Customs and DWP. PSFA will in due course set up a central enforcement unit. Some departments have the choice of referring a fraud they detect for prosecution or applying a civil penalty, normally with a lower burden of proof and lower fine. The latter can offer a more cost-effective route to investigate fraud and recover funds, but may not offer the same deterrent effect. Government has not set out the level of prosecutions and convictions for fraud that it wants to achieve in order to produce an effective preventive deterrent. Departments are also not yet able to demonstrate that they have the right balance between civil and criminal sanctions to achieve both the optimal recovery of funds and a deterrent effect. Government can do more to increase transparency on the extent of prosecutions to highlight the consequences of committing fraud, deter people from committing fraudulent activities, and reassure the public that fraud and corruption does not go unpunished. Recommendation 5: The Public Sector Fraud Authority, in collaboration with other departments, should develop a cross-government communication strategy for highlighting government’s efforts in pursuing fraudsters and the effectiveness of counter-fraud measures. It should, in the Treasury Minute, confirm it will oversee the implementation of this strategy.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees. The PSFA is working with Cabinet Office Communications and has established a Cross Government Counter Fraud Communications Working Group. This group will develop a cross-government communications plan to highlight anti-fraud efforts and create a deterrence effect.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. fraud measures and the government’s efforts in doing so, is a priority for the PSFA. The PSFA works closely with the Cabinet Office Communications teams to identify, generate, and share positive and deterrence-based news stories highlighting the impact of its work. It will also continue to hold itself accountable via public publications of its strategic plans and report on progress made to tackle fraud and corruption through its imminent Annual Report. A Cross Government Counter Fraud Communications Working Group has been established to enhance the coordination, collaboration, and consistency of communications regarding public sector counter fraud activities. It is led by the PSFA and includes key government departments and agencies with membership expertise in countering fraud, behavioural insights and communications. The Cross Government Counter Fraud Communications Working Group will develop and maintain a cross-government communications plan, that will provide a common narrative for the government's efforts in preventing and pursuing fraudsters. It will also amplify individual public body communications to further promote the success and impact of counter fraud activities and to create a deterrence effect.