Fraud costs the UK economy an estimated £16bn a year. And this in spite of many efforts to stop it.

Although it's difficult to put a true figure on the exact financial total, fraud and corruption also damage reputations. Local government is no exception to the damaging consequences of fraud and corruption. It handles large and varied financial transactions with citizens, frequently employs hundreds, if not thousands of employees, and deals with a range of funding. Like any other business, it needs to act to deter fraud where possible, and reduce and manage it effectively when uncovered. Fraudsters are excellent risk managers and will weigh up pain versus gain.