New authority announced to recover government money lost to fraud during pandemic

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has announced the creation of a new ‘fraud squad’ to recover money lost to fraudulent Covid support claims and other criminal targeting public funds.

The Public Sector Fraud Authority is expected to launch in July, bringing together data analytics experts and leading economic crime investigators with a remit to recover money stolen from Covid support schemes, and spot spurious bids for government contracts. The £25 million organisation will also conduct spot checks on government departments to uncover vulnerabilities in processes that could put taxpayer money at risk.

The government’s Public Accounts Committee revealed in a report in February that as much as £16 billion could have been lost to fraud via pandemic support, including the furlough scheme, Bounce Back Loan Scheme and Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

The CEO of the new body, due to be recruited in the coming weeks, will report directly to both the Chancellor and Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency. Full details of the Public Sector Fraud Authority will be formally revealed at the first meeting of a new Efficiencies and Value for Money Committee that will be held the afternoon of 27th April.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak said:

“We will chase down fraudsters who rip off the taxpayer. This elite fraud squad, backed by £25 million, will ensure the latest counter fraud techniques are being used to track down these criminals.

“People are rightly furious that fraudsters took advantage of our vital Covid support schemes, and we are acting to make sure they pay the price.”

Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency, Jacob Rees-Mogg said:

“Hardworking taxpayers must and will be protected. Anyone who tries to defraud the public purse will know that we as a government are coming for them and we are going to put them behind bars.”