Three members of staff have been disciplined or dismissed from the county council or from Hertfordshire schools following allegations of fraud this year – and a further case has been passed to prosecutors.

In total 14 allegations of fraud against county council staff have been reported to the ‘shared anti-fraud service’ this year – of which six remain under investigation.

And they were highlighted to members of the county council’s audit committee on Friday (December 6), as part of a report into the ongoing work of the ‘shared anti-fraud service’.

In the first half of this year the committee heard the service has received 94 allegations of fraud relating to county council services – compared to 172 in the whole of 2018/19.

And – according to the data – more than half of the allegations made to the service related to blue badges. Others related to adult care, schools or payroll.

According to the report, of the 27 fraud cases that had been both investigated and closed so far this year, losses  or savings – of £85,000 have been identified.

But of the 113 cases that are still under investigation, it’s estimated the the loss – or savings – could amount to more than £1 million.

The report to the committee said the council had received a number of fraudulent clams for damage to vehicles on council roads or personal injury on council land or property.

And it was reported it had detected fraudulent claims for council tax discounts that could have cost the county council and the district and borough councils a total of £100,000.

At the meeting it was reported to councillors that fraud could be costing local authorities a combined total of more than £2billion a year nation-wide.

Fraud against councils can be focussed on areas such as blue badge misuse, housing, council tax, insurance claims and school admissions.

And as well as investigating and prosecuting fraudsters, the committee heard the service also under takes deterrence and prevention work.

The service  – based at the county council, in Stevenage – brings together a team of 18 counter fraud staff.

And as well as focusing on Hertfordshire County Council it includes district and borough councils in North Herts, East Herts, Broxbourne, Stevenage and Hertsmere.