Peterborough City Council has pledged to “rigorously pursue” fraudsters, recover lost public money and apply criminal sanctions where necessary, as it launches a strengthened Counter Fraud Plan for 2026/27.
The renewed strategy, to be presented to the council’s audit committee on January 12, sets out an uncompromising stance against fraud and corruption, whether committed by outsiders, employees, elected members or partner organisations.
Ahead of the meeting, Cllr Shabina Asad Qayyum, posted to social media: “When I took over the Leadership of Peterborough City Council, we inherited a huge amount of ‘baggage’ that is now being investigated, and I make no apologies for it.
“It is on my administration’s watch that I will ensure that I support every investigation going..”
She added: “Decisions devoid of governance and due process will be uncovered to the last letter. I will make sure of it.”
Chief internal auditor Steve Crabtree, who helped compile the new report, said the council has a clear duty to protect public funds and uphold the highest ethical standards across every service.
“The council has a duty to prevent fraud and corruption, whether it is attempted by someone outside or within the council such as another organisation, a resident, an employee or a member,” he said.
He added that the authority is committed to creating an “effective counter fraud and corruption culture” by promoting high ethical standards and actively encouraging the prevention and detection of fraudulent activity.
While the counter fraud plan will be managed primarily by the internal audit team, responsibility for delivering it will sit with officers at every level of the organisation.
Mr Crabtree said the council protects the public through work across all services, particularly by sharing information and knowledge, and by maintaining clear frameworks and procedures to prevent fraud and encourage staff and residents to report concerns.
The plan applies widely, covering everyone associated with the council, including staff, elected members, agency and temporary workers, volunteers, consultants, contractors and partners.
A strong emphasis is placed on the role of councillors themselves. The plan states that elected members have a duty to citizens to protect the authority from all forms of abuse, through strict compliance with the national code of conduct, financial procedures, the council’s constitution and relevant legislation.
Councillors must confirm they have read and understood the national code of conduct when taking office, with ethical matters highlighted during induction, including the declaration and registration of interests.
Members are required to declare both pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests, identify potential conflicts of interest and record all gifts and hospitality received. They will also be advised of new legislative or procedural requirements as they arise.
The report stresses that councillors must lead by example and demonstrate “the highest standards of probity and conduct” to create the right anti-fraud culture throughout Peterborough City Council.
Employees are also reminded to remain alert to the possibility that fraud, corruption or theft may exist in the workplace and to raise concerns promptly.
Guidance states that issues should be reported to line managers in the first instance. If staff feel unable to do so, they are directed to the council’s whistleblowing policy, which provides access to independent individuals with whom concerns can be discussed.
The plan warns employees to avoid situations where conflicts of interest may arise, particularly in areas such as externalised services, planning and land issues. Effective separation of roles is highlighted as essential to ensure decisions are seen to be impartial and to prevent improper disclosure of confidential information.
The audit committee will also be told of a commitment to improve understanding across the organisation of how fraud impacts services and how it can be tackled.
Fraud awareness training will be rolled out for both members and officers, delivered through a new e-learning platform.
In a strongly worded summary, the Counter Fraud Plan 2026/27 makes clear that the council will support whistleblowers and treat all reports seriously.
“We have whistleblowing procedures and support those who come forward to report suspected fraud,” it says. “All reports will be treated seriously and acted upon.”
The council also plans to strengthen preventative measures, explore the use of data and analytical software to detect fraud, and increase data sharing and intelligence-gathering to uncover both potential and actual wrongdoing.
It will continue to play an active role in the National Fraud Initiative data-matching exercise and will educate managers about their responsibilities for maintaining effective internal controls.
Good governance, scrutiny and independent challenge to risk and management controls are described as central to the approach.
Recovering lost money is identified as a “crucial element” of the council’s response.
“This will be rigorously pursued, where possible,” the plan states.
Under the heading “punishing fraudsters”, the council sets out its toughest warning yet.
It says realistic and effective sanctions will be applied where investigations uncover fraud, including legal action and criminal or disciplinary proceedings.
The council also intends to publicise successful cases as a deterrent to anyone considering abusing public funds.
Cllr Shabina Asad Qayyum said: “When I took over the Leadership of Peterborough City Council, we inherited a huge amount of ‘baggage’ that is now being investigated, and I make no apologies for it. Decisions devoid of governance and due process will be uncovered to the last letter. I will make sure of it.”
