Fighting public sector fraud in the 21st century

The UK Government's commitment to reducing the increasing deficit, currently estimated at £155bn, and its need to decide where to make cuts have been at the top of the news agenda ever since the coalition came to power. At an estimated cost of £25bn each year, combating fraud and error within the public sector is an obvious place to start. Every penny lost could be redirected towards improving performance and strengthening frontline services. But central and local government, as well as the National Health Service (NHS), must work together to tackle a plethora of attacks – from internal errors and tax avoidance to organised crime. Viewing information as a strategic asset is a good place to start.