Your voice matters. It’s time for local government counter fraud to be heard.
Local Authorities across the UK are invited to take part in the Local Authority Counter Fraud Survey 2026, now open until Thursday, 10 September 2026.
Your contribution is vital. The insight you provide helps shape national guidance, strengthen sector capability and build a clearer, evidence‑based picture of fraud risk across local government.
Why does your feedback matter?
Findings from the Local Authority Counter Fraud Survey 2025 highlighted the need for:
- Deeper insight
- Stronger evidence
- More practical guidance
This year’s survey has been developed with local authorities to build a clearer, more detailed understanding of:
- Current fraud risks
- Emerging threats
- Operational pressures
- Sector resilience
All responses remain anonymous.
Key findings from the 2025 Report
- Fraud case volumes increased 98.9% over five years
- Estimated £265 million in detected fraud nationally (2024/25)
- Average case value decreased from £5,090 to £2,708, indicating a rise in lower‑value, higher‑volume fraud
- 40% of councils reported fraud work carried out by staff with shared roles
- Tenancy, procurement and council tax fraud remained top‑value risks
- Every £1 invested in counter‑fraud delivered £3.65 in detected savings
The report also highlighted increasing complexity in fraud threats including AI‑enabled deception, identity fraud and insider risk reinforcing the need for skilled capacity, collaboration and improved access to data.
As John Peerless, Chair of the NAFN Executive Board, notes:
“This report is a vital contribution to our shared understanding of fraud risk, resilience and response across local government.”
What happens next?
Survey responses will inform a topic‑specific report to be published later this year. This report will help establish a refreshed national picture of fraud risk, resilience and response strategies across UK local government supporting governance, audit, business cases and counter‑fraud planning.
Completing the Survey
If you have received the survey email, please complete it as soon as possible. If you are unable to complete the survey, please share it with the appropriate colleague as soon as possible. Only one response from each Local Authority is required.
If you have not received the survey link, please contact: marketing@nafn.gov.uk