Anti-Fraud and Corruption Investigations

WORK IN PROGRESS

Anti-Fraud and Investigation Team (Camden Council) here 

"The team's main objective is the prevention and detection of fraud, corruption, bribery and irregularities committed either with intent or through bad practice. The team is also responsible for the administration and monitoring of the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) and the Council’s policies on money laundering and the Bribery Act. "

- the page mentions the Regulator for England and Wales: the  Audit Commission which disbanded in 2015, website  here   and replaced by  here 

The Audit Commission Act 1998 here  [original version] - repealed here by the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 here  and which came into force here

https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/2024/11/28/special-investigation-into-camden-council/

In the above investigation report by the Housing Ombudsman into some area's of service provision by camden council housing repairs department - key issues include:

             - unlinked repair histories 

             - neglected follow ups on inspections 

              - stalled repairs lacking inspections

             - poor record keeping 

             -   repeated unsuccessful repair attempts

               and poor communication with residents. 

" to improve the management of repairs the report recommends the landlord establish a systematic process for tracking outstanding repairs to completion."  

 

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around 2002 - haiten patel housing benefit fraud. i can't find or have access to any write up about the case but there are references to it. 

 2007. https://www.thecnj.com/camden/061407/news061407_10.html "We are disappointed that the full scale of the fraud could not be recognised by the courts and tougher sentences given.

2016. https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/town-hall-bathroom-fraud-convicted-council-official-vows-to-break-silence

others

https://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Mayor_of_Camden,_London,_arrested_in_benefit_fraud_inquiry

https://www.thecnj.com/camden/011807/news011807_02.html   jail for £600k town hall fraud

information request reply here tenancy fraud - camden council aug 2024 

update 7 nov 2025

other cases

Guildford Borough Council    here  Missed red flags led to council overspend running into millions of pounds, independent investigators find =jan 2025

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c87173ekyz2o An investigation is under way at Guildford Borough Council following “an issue” with the housing maintenance department. sept 2023

 

camden council 

audit and corporate governance committee - wednes 24 june 2020 

item 8 Internal Audit Annual Report 2019-20 

Additional documents:

• Appendix 1 Internal Audit 2019-20 Plan Update , item 8. PDF 236 KB
• Appendix 2 Internal Audit Key Performance Indicators , item 8. PDF 135 KB
• Appendix 3 Internal Audit High Priority Findings , item 8. PDF 108 KB  

• 1) Payment Card Industry (PCI) Compliance 
• 2) Commercial Property Management

• 3) Camden Accessible Transport Solutions

• Appendix 4 Internal Audit Follow Up Update , item 8. PDF 244 K