National Fraud Initiative 2022-23

The South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner is required by law to protect the public funds he administers. The Commissioner and South Wales Police may share information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.

The Auditor General for Wales (the Auditor General) audits the accounts of the Commissioner and the Chief Constable. The Auditor General is also responsible for carrying out data matching exercises. 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 but may also be non- personal such as details of payments to suppliers. Personal data will only be kept for as long as we need to provide services or fulfil our obligations, and to comply with any legal requirements for keeping certain types of data.

 Computerised data matching allows potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. Where a match is found it may indicate 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.

 The Auditor General currently requires the Commissioner and South Wales Police to participate in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. The Commissioner and South Wales Police are required to provide sets of data relating to payroll, pensions and trade creditors to the Auditor General; details of these are set out in the Audit Commission’s guidance and can be found at: National Fraud Initiative 2022-23 : Work Programme and Data Specifications (audit.wales)

 The use of data by the Auditor General in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority under his powers in Part 3 of the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the Data Protection Act 2018, incorporating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).  Data matching by the Auditor General is subject to a Code of Practice. This may be found at: Code of Data Matching Practice (audit.wales)

 For further information on the Auditor General’s legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information, see National Fraud Initiative | Audit Wales

 If you would like independent advice on this privacy notice or other matters about personal information, including complaints, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (regional):

Information Commissioner's Office
2nd floor
Churchill House
Churchill way
Cardiff
CF10 2HH

Tel: 016 2554 5297
Email: wales@ico.org.uk              
Map and directions

For further information on the Commissioner’s participation in the National Fraud Initiative please contact david.hollowayyoung@south-wales.police.uk

  Arweinydd Strategol: Ansawdd, Safonau a Chydymffurfio|Strategic Lead: Quality, Standards and Compliance. Data Protection Officer for the OPCC

De Cymru Comisiynydd yr Heddlu a Throseddu |South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner

01656 869366

Ebost | Email: commisssioner@south-wales.police.uk