Recommendation 17

The Counter Fraud Function describes fraud as a hidden crime which you must find before you can fight.41 The government’s counter-fraud functional strategy states an aim to be the most transparent government globally in dealing with public sector fraud.42 Cabinet Office told us it aims to put as much focus into the areas where there are low levels of detected fraud, and low levels of investment in counter fraud, as it does those areas where there are known to be higher levels of loss.43 It publishes an annual Fraud Landscape report every year, which reports on the detected fraud levels across government.44