The Council has developed a suite of policies and procedures to help raise awareness of fraud and corruption issues and to promote their prevention, detection and investigation. These documents are known collectively as the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Framework.
The Framework consists of five separate but related documents, namely:
- Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy
- Fraud Response Plan
- Anti-Bribery Policy
- Anti-Money Laundering Policy
- Whistleblowing Policy
Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy
This is the highest level document within the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Framework, providing the key principles to be observed by all those associated with the Council.
The strategy highlights the important role that staff and Members play in creating and maintaining a culture of openness, honesty and opposition to fraud and corruption, and details some of the measures the Council has put in place to help prevent and detect fraud. It also outlines the Council’s approach to fraud investigation.
Fraud Response Plan
It is important to respond to fraud and corruption incidents in a timely and effective manner in order to contain the problem, maximise the success of any disciplinary/legal action, to recover any losses and to put measures in place to prevent further occurrences. The Fraud Response Plan sets out how this will be achieved.
The document states what you should do if you suspect malpractice and details how any concerns raised will be investigated and followed up.
Anti-Bribery Policy
Rother District Council has zero-tolerance of bribery.
Bribery is a criminal offence. Rother District Council does not, and will not, pay bribes or offer improper inducements to anyone for any purpose, nor do we or will we, accept bribes or improper inducements.
To use a third-party as a conduit to channel bribes to others is also a criminal offence. We do not, and will not, engage indirectly in or otherwise encourage bribery.
The policy aims to:
- communicate the Council’s commitment to the prevention, deterrence and detection of bribery,
- make staff, Members and anyone acting on the authority’s behalf aware of their responsibilities, and
- provide a procedure for individuals to raise their concerns when bribery is suspected.
The policy should be read by all personnel working for (or on behalf of) the Council, including officers and Members, temporary agency staff, consultants and contractors.
Anti-Money Laundering Policy
Money laundering is the process by which illegally acquired funds (i.e. from crime or terrorism) are moved through financial systems so that they appear to come from a legitimate source.
Money laundering is a criminal offence. The policy is designed to raise awareness of money laundering activity and details the procedures which staff must follow in order to comply with the law.
Whistleblowing Policy
This policy sets out how you can raise concerns about suspected wrongdoing by anyone working for or associated with the Council.
Please visit our Whistleblowing page for further details.
