The team uncovered over 50 cases of irregularity between the beginning of April 2024 and the end of March 2025.
An annual Corporate Fraud report, presented to the Councils Audit and Governance Committee this month, showed that officers helped to detect £6,426,557 of irregularity during the last financial year.
The Corporate Fraud Service team is professionally resourced and skilled in investigating any potentially fraudulent activity relating to the organisation, its partnerships, and direct contractors.
Intervention included the cancellation of 36 Right to Buy applications following due diligence activities, providing £6,373,224 of prevented losses by retaining these properties within council housing stock and continuing to yield monthly rental income and be available for social housing needs.
Meanwhile, tenancy fraud investigations resulted in the recovery of five social housing properties, saving an estimated £252,000 and enabling genuinely eligible families to becomes tenants.
Councillor Martin Cook, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Resources, says:
“These are excellent results from our Corporate Fraud Service. The prevention of fraudulent activity helps us to protect taxpayers.
With increased pressure on local government, and a reduction in central government funding, it’s never been more important for our Corporate Fraud Services to tackle fraud and protect those that truly need our help.”
Reporting suspicions of fraud
Reports of suspected fraud can be made to Ipswich Borough Council by calling: 01473 433999, emailing fraud@ipswich.gov.uk or online at: www.ipswich.gov.uk/corporatefraud