North Ayrshire Council’s Irvine-based fraud team has made financial recoveries of over £0.4million since it joined forces with East Ayrshire in 2017, prompting a commitment to stamp out fraud once and for all.

The Corporate Fraud Team, based in Irvine, carries out investigations to prevent and detect fraud against both councils, whether it is by employees, elected members, partner organisations, suppliers or residents.

It then takes any enforcement action that is necessary which may include disciplinary action (if the fraud is perpetrated by an employee), civil court action or criminal prosecution.

Frauds committed against the council can include procurement and contract fraud; blue badge fraud; council tax fraud; business rate fraud; tenancy fraud and insurance fraud. The council say fraud in the public sector costs the taxpayers billions of pounds each year and losses on this scale can have a huge impact on the provision of public services.

Councillor George Mair, Chair of the EAC Governance and Scrutiny Committee, said there is a 'zero-tolerance approach to fraudulent or corrupt activity and we aim to prevent fraud wherever possible;.

He added: “Wherever it is detected, we will investigate, so we would encourage anyone with information about suspected fraud to contact the Corporate Fraud Team on the details below. You don’t have to give your name or any personal details when you get in touch.”

North and East Ayrshire Council’s Corporate Fraud Team has received more than 700 fraud referrals for East Ayrshire in the last four years - highlighting how much of an issue it remains.

If you have a concern or wish to find out more, email corporatefraud@north-ayrshire.gov.uk, call 01294 324585 or 01294 324586 or write to Corporate Fraud Team, North Ayrshire Council Headquarters, Cunninghame House, Friars Croft, Irvine, KA12 8EE.