Fraud and error: DWP has wisely put more focus on prevention – now it must put its vision into practice
05 Nov 2025 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants

Fraud and error: DWP has wisely put more focus on prevention – now it must put its vision into practice

Extra funding for fraud and error activity, and lessons learned from its interventions to date, present DWP with opportunities to increase the scale and impact of its approach
by Laura Brackwell
Counter-fraud function delivers £7.5bn savings across public sector
27 Feb Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Counter-fraud function delivers £7.5bn savings across public sector
Cross-government report shows quadrupling of detected fraud and error in two years
18 Feb Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Cross-government report shows quadrupling of detected fraud and error in two years
DWP urged to target staff mistakes in fraud-and-error crackdown
18 Feb Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP urged to target staff mistakes in fraud-and-error crackdown
Cabinet Office signs up Deloitte to help departments tackle fraud
16 Apr 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Cabinet Office signs up Deloitte to help departments tackle fraud
Consultancy firm will support new pilot Public Sector Fraud Authority Enforcement Unit
DWP hails convictions in £54m Universal Credit fraud case
12 Apr 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP hails convictions in £54m Universal Credit fraud case
Five plead guilty over London 'benefit factories' that generated thousands of false claims
MPs press DWP to reveal impact of AI on benefit claims
10 Apr 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
MPs press DWP to reveal impact of AI on benefit claims
PAC disputes department's suggestion that publishing data on the impact of algorithms would pose a fraud risk
Failure to regulate 'number spoofing' a national scandal, TV expert says
26 Mar 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Failure to regulate 'number spoofing' a national scandal, TV expert says
Scam Interceptors co-presenter says government needs to make more use of diplomatic channels to shut down overseas-based operations
FCDO 'not proactive enough' at tackling overseas aid fraud
26 Mar 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
FCDO 'not proactive enough' at tackling overseas aid fraud
Watchdog blames departmental merger, Covid and new IT system for fuelling increased risks
Delving under the surface – how government can save billions by tackling fraud and error
21 Mar 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Delving under the surface – how government can save billions by tackling fraud and error
The National Audit Office is increasingly focusing on how government is tackling fraud and error and, as the NAO's director of fraud and propriety Joshua Reddaway argues, billions could be saved by getting this right
Perm secs get flak over action to combat fraud and corruption
12 Mar 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Perm secs get flak over action to combat fraud and corruption
Public Accounts Committee chair questions commitments to transparency and flags "vagueness" on investment for recovery work
Corrupt MoD official convicted of misconduct in public office
07 Mar 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Corrupt MoD official convicted of misconduct in public office
Jeffrey Cook pocketed kickbacks worth at least £70,000 in exchange for defence contracts whilst he was an MoD civil servant
Budget: Funding for anti-fraud AI and DWP service modernisation in public sector productivity drive
04 Mar 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Budget: Funding for anti-fraud AI and DWP service modernisation in public sector productivity drive
Chancellor announces drive to save £1.8bn by 2029 ahead of this week's Spring Budget
Perm sec rebuts claims BEIS sought go-slow on Post Office compensation
22 Feb 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Perm sec rebuts claims BEIS sought go-slow on Post Office compensation
Sarah Munby says 2023 meeting with POL chair Henry Staunton did not cover payouts to Horizon Scandal victims
Departments ‘must act now’ to prevent fraud in future emergencies
08 Feb 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Departments ‘must act now’ to prevent fraud in future emergencies
“By the time an emergency has started, it is usually too late to take all the steps needed," NAO report warns
Now is the time to learn lessons about maintaining standards in an emergency
08 Feb 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Now is the time to learn lessons about maintaining standards in an emergency
The NAO's review to learn lessons from spending during an emergency was extensive. Here are the key takeaways for government