Hackney Council staff sacked following fraud investigation

Internal fraud probe: council uncovers wrongdoing

Internal fraud investigations at Hackney Council have led to the dismissal of seven of its staff, it has emerged.

Two were sacked over the misuse of a parking permit, two others were given the boot for mishandling a social housing tenancy or application.

A further two who were told to clear their desks had been previously suspended as a consequence of an investigation into goings-on at Hackney Homes, the council’s housing arms-length management organisation.

There was one case involving a member of staff carrying out their own private work in council time.

Between April last year and the end of this March, 11 workers resigned or left whilst under investigation for wrongdoing.

This included three who were involved in the misuse of a parking permit, and two staff who could not work in the UK because of their immigration status;

There were two cases involving a potential conflict between council employment and private work.

Two members of staff were involved in the misuse of the council’s email system, and other in the unexplained use of a purchasing card;

Another worker was being investigated over an irregularity involving a social housing tenancy or application.

Eleven other cases were referred by the Town Hall’s Audit and Investigations team to either the Metropolitan Police or the UK Border Agency.

Of the 47 referrals that the council’s fraud team received, there was one from the Chief Executive’s office, 14 from Hackney Homes, 12 from the Health and Community Services department and 11 from Finance and Resources.

Out of a total of 72 investigations, 61 led to action being taken but 11 were dropped.

Commenting on the investigations, a Town Hall spokeswomen said: “The council expects all staff to abide by the terms set out in our Code of Conduct and will take appropriate action where these standards are not met.

“This is reflected in a number of staff being dismissed or being subject to disciplinary action during 2015/16 following an investigation by the Audit Investigation Team.

“Hackney is unable to comment on the outcomes of these investigations. Referrals are made to other agencies such as the DWP (as the appropriate organisation to investigate Housing Benefit fraud which was identified through our other investigations), the Home Office (in cases where there are doubts about immigration status).

“Of the five Hackney Homes officers who were investigated under a linked enquiry in 2014/15, two have been dismissed and three were subject to other disciplinary action.”

Seven dismissed: the council’s Audit Investigation Team (AIT) uncovers cases of fraud