National Fraud Initiative
Land & Property Services (LPS) is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. It may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.
The Comptroller and Auditor General audits the accounts of NICS departments and agencies, including LPS. The Comptroller and Auditor General is also responsible for carrying out data matching exercises by virtue of his powers under Articles 4A to 4G of the Audit and Accountability (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.
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.
The Comptroller and Auditor General currently requires LPS to participate in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. Participant organisations are required to provide particular sets of data including benefit and allowance recipients to the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Further details of the data to be provided are set out on the:
The use of data by the Comptroller and Auditor General in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority. It does not require the consent of the individual concerned under the General Data Protection Regulation 2016.
The data matching exercise is subject to a code of practice. This may be found at:
For further information on the Comptroller and Auditor General’s legal powers and the reasons for matching particular information, please see the Level 3 notice on the: