National Fraud Initiative (NFI)

Privacy Notice 

Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AF&RS) is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. We may share information provided to us with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.

The Cabinet Office conducts data matching exercises to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud as part of its responsibility for public sector efficiency and reform. Part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 enables the Cabinet Office to process data as part of the National Fraud Initiative (NFI). 

We are a mandatory participant in the Cabinet Office’s National Fraud Initiative and are required to provide particular sets of data to the Minister for the Cabinet Office for matching each exercise, and these are set out in the Cabinet Office Guidance.

Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body against other computer records held by the same or another body to see how far they match. This is usually personal information. 

Computerised data matching allows potentially fraudulent claims and payments to be identified. Where a match is found it may indicate that there is an inconsistency which requires further investigation. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until an investigation is carried out.

Our lawful basis to process this data is set out in Article 6 (c) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where ‘processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject’. We are not required to obtain the consent of the individuals concerned under data protection legislation.

The Cabinet Office has published its Data Privacy notice, which sets out how the Cabinet Office will use your personal data and your rights. The notice is made under Article 14 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Data matching by the Cabinet Office is subject to a Code of Practice. 

You have a number of rights in relation to the information including the right of access to information we hold about you and the right of complaint if you are unhappy with the way your information is being processed.

For further information on how AF&RS process your information can be found on our main privacy page of our website and information about how you can exercise your rights is also available on the our website here. 

Please contact a member of the Data Protection Team in the event that you require further assistance: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.