15 December 2015 | Comments
What is Fraud?
Fraud is the use of deception to obtain an advantage, avoid an obligation or cause a loss to another party. Corruption is a form of dishonest or unethical conduct by a person entrusted with a position of authority, often to acquire personal benefit and can be the abuse of public office for private gain. The Department for International Development (DFID) and St Helena Government (SHG) are committed to ensuring that resources, entrusted by the UK Parliament on behalf of the UK taxpayer, will be used only for the purposes intended and not lost through fraud and corruption.
Financial Secretary Colin Owen commented:
“All DFID employees, consultants and contractors, in the UK and overseas, have a responsibility to protect DFID funds and other assets from fraud and corruption. External scrutiny on how we all manage that risk is increasing.
“But the risk of fraud and corruption is an ever present fact across the world, and given the amount of money for which DFID is responsible and the context of how and where much of its work is done – it is a risk which has to be managed.”
What Harm Does it Cause?
Fraud and corruption against DFID funds, either by DFID staff, partner organisations, for example contractors – or in partner Governments such as SHG – will not be tolerated because it:
- Diverts public resources
- Breaches public service ethics and values
- Damages UK Government reputation for sound financial management
- Challenges DFID’s fitness for purpose and credibility
All reports of potential fraud or corruption will be examined and investigated if necessary. Anyone found to have been involved in fraudulent and corrupt activity or to have been negligent in supervision, will be subject to disciplinary or criminal proceedings. Action will also be taken to recover any funds that have been lost. Similarly, future funding could be withheld from partner Governments where arrangements for preventing or detecting fraud and corruption fail to improve.
What to Do if You Suspect Fraud or Corruption?
All suspicions of fraud or corruption must be reported. You can report fraud to DFID’s Counter Fraud and Whistleblowing Unit (CFWU) – by email, telephone, in person or through the DFID website.
- Email fraud@dfid.gov.uk
- Telephone +44 (0) 1355 843376 or +44 (0) 1355 843551
- On-Island, you can contact the Head of Internal Audit via email: kanes@sainthelena.gov.sh or Tel: 22692 – who will pass on your concerns to DFID
- Further advice can also be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development/about#reporting-fraud.
SHG
15 December 2015
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