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
Departments’ use of banking-style anti-fraud checks set for review
13 Mar Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Departments’ use of banking-style anti-fraud checks set for review
Home Office and NCA to lead new online crime squad
10 Mar Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Home Office and NCA to lead new online crime squad
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
Covid public inquiry hearings ‘will not begin until 2023 at the earliest’
11 Mar 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Covid public inquiry hearings ‘will not begin until 2023 at the earliest’
Revelation comes as inquiry chair puts draft terms of reference out to consultation
Ex-minister rips into Treasury perm sec over fraud ‘complacency'
10 Mar 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Ex-minister rips into Treasury perm sec over fraud ‘complacency'
Department a “Dad’s Army operation” when it came to keeping criminals away from the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, says Agnew
HMRC looks ‘soft on fraud’ over billions of lost Covid support, MPs warn
11 Feb 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
HMRC looks ‘soft on fraud’ over billions of lost Covid support, MPs warn
Public Accounts Committee blasts lack of ambition as department expects to write off “at least £4bn” in furlough and SEISS payments
A matter of tax: HMRC's Angela MacDonald on hubs, fraud and why she'd never leave Yorkshire Exclusive
03 Feb 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
A matter of tax: HMRC's Angela MacDonald on hubs, fraud and why she'd never leave Yorkshire
Second perm sec Angela MacDonald reflects on HMRC's role in the Covid response and EU transition, and what its massive office rationalisation programme means for levelling up
Tension grows between Treasury and No.10 over blame for pandemic fraud
27 Jan 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Tension grows between Treasury and No.10 over blame for pandemic fraud
Chancellor denies "ignoring" billions in fraud after minister quits over failure to tackle the problem
HMRC expects to recoup only a quarter of £6bn lost to Covid fraud and error
18 Jan 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
HMRC expects to recoup only a quarter of £6bn lost to Covid fraud and error
Department revises down estimate of taxpayers’ money it could get back by March 2023
CMA chief exec announces plan to step down
10 Jan 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
CMA chief exec announces plan to step down
Andrea Coscelli will leave regulator at the end of July after six years as CEO
'The last couple of years have had a science fiction feel': Gareth Davies on the NAO's Covid scrutiny and trials of remote work
03 Jan 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
'The last couple of years have had a science fiction feel': Gareth Davies on the NAO's Covid scrutiny and trials of remote work
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The National Audit Office boss tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid while pushing ahead with new challenges
Jim Harra: ‘Balancing HMRC’s priorities in 2021 felt like a high wire act’
29 Dec 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Jim Harra: ‘Balancing HMRC’s priorities in 2021 felt like a high wire act’
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The HMRC chief exec tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid as well as new challenges
National Crime Agency offers £223k for next DG
12 Dec 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
National Crime Agency offers £223k for next DG
Law-enforcement body launches recruitment drive for permanent successor to Lynne Owens
Anti-fraud checks on Covid loans 'inadequate', watchdog finds
03 Dec 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Anti-fraud checks on Covid loans 'inadequate', watchdog finds
Most measures were introduced "too late" to stop fraud, with focus on prevention
HMRC struggles to recover billions in overpaid Covid-19 support and tax debts
22 Nov 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
HMRC struggles to recover billions in overpaid Covid-19 support and tax debts
Taskforce likely to recover minority of support paid in error and fraud as NAO says department needs to increase its debt recovery capacity