Westminster City Council's Corporate Anti-Fraud Service (CAFS) has prevented an estimated £693,499 in fraud losses between 1 April and 30 September 2025, a significant increase compared to the £411,513 notional value of fraud proved in the same period last year. The Mid-Year Counter Fraud Report, presented at the Audit and Performance Committee on Monday 24 November 2025, detailed the team's activities in minimising fraud, bribery, and corruption against the council.
During the reporting period, tenancy fraud was the most prevalent, accounting for over 65% of the investigator's caseload, according to the report. Other types of fraud investigated included high/medium risk fraud (e.g., NNDR, Procurement, Duplicate invoices) and low-risk fraud (e.g., Freedom Passes, Council Tax SPD).
During the reporting period, CAFS processed 101 new referrals and concluded 174 investigations. These investigations resulted in 82 positive outcomes, also identifying a notional loss of £318,402. These positive outcomes included property recovery, prevention activities, and deterrents such as court-issued recovery orders. Additionally, £69,443 was identified for recovery via court-issued unlawful profit orders.
The report also highlighted that CAFS had not received any new fraud referrals through the council's whistleblowing policy since 1 April 2025. However, staff continue to report potential fraud through other channels, such as the CAFS hotline or investigation mailbox.
The council's Anti-Fraud & Corruption Strategy 2024/27 outlines ongoing counter-fraud efforts, including the development and use of technology to expand coverage and enable proactive operations. Data-matching analytics are used to identify anomalies, enabling CAFS to maintain operational capacity and adapt to changing conditions, such as emerging threats. The Strategy is built on four pillars: Govern, Understand, Prevent, and Respond.
