The Counter Fraud in the Public Sector Conference 2026
Previous Supporters include:
Overview
As public bodies face increasing financial pressures and rising levels of fraud, the need for stronger counter-fraud measures is more urgent than ever. Fraud and error are diverting billions from essential services, stretching already pressured systems. With criminals becoming more sophisticated and exploiting new vulnerabilities, the Public Authorities Fraud, Error and Recovery Bill 2025 strengthens government-wide defences by giving organisations clearer powers to investigate, prevent and recover losses. Public sector bodies must now build more resilient systems and cultures to protect public funds and maintain trust.
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Keynote: Government Updates on the Changing Fraud Landscape
- Reviewing the latest cross-government priorities and assessing how the recent report, together with the Public Authorities Fraud, Error and Recovery Bill, is reshaping expectations across the public sector
- Focusing on the Failure to Prevent Fraud offence and clarifying what “reasonable procedures” mean for public bodies under the strengthened legislative framework
- Examining how the Bill’s expanded regulatory powers and updated liability standards are influencing approaches to fraud risk management
- Exploring emerging fraud typologies and how perpetrator behaviour is adapting in response to these legislative and regulatory changes
Mark Cheeseman OBE, Chief Executive, Public Sector Fraud Authority (invited)
Keynote: Insider Fraud Threats in Public Sector Organisations
- Reviewing recent trends and data highlighting the prevalence of insider fraud in public sector organisations, including the growing number of reported cases
- Identifying warning signs that staff may pose a fraud risk, such as unusual access to systems, unexplained lifestyle changes, reluctance to take leave, or bypassing internal controls
- Discussing strategies to mitigate insider fraud
- Key tips on how to build a culture of counter-fraud within your workforce
Rachael Tiffen, Director of Public Sector and Learning, Cifas (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: The Future of Policing Fraud
- Assessing the police’s current capacity to tackle increasingly complex fraud, including pressures on specialist economic crime units and constraints on frontline investigative resources
- Examining the roles and responsibilities of Action Fraud and how intelligence is coordinated across different sectors
- Outlining how modern fraudsters exploit online anonymity and technology, including cryptocurrency and block chain scams
- Evaluating potential reforms to improve the effectiveness and consistency of the policing response to fraud
Amanda Wolf, Temporary Head of Action Fraud & National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, Chief Super Intendant, City of London Police (invited)
Keynote: Developing an Organisational Culture of Counter-Fraud
- Exploring how organisations can shift from seeing fraud detection as failure to treating it as a positive indicator of a strong control environment
- Examining how leadership and accountability contribute to building a proactive counter‑fraud culture across all levels of the organisation
- Reviewing practical measures: ensuring fraud‑awareness is in recruitment and induction; using key performance indicators; creating safe channels for staff to report concerns
- Encouraging departmental data sharing to strengthen investigative capability and ensure fraud prevention is integral to everyday activities
Questions & Answers
Lunch Break
Keynote: Fraud, Error and Risk Across Government
- Reviewing the latest NAO data on fraud and error
- Understanding high-risk areas and systemic vulnerabilities
- Improving financial stewardship and fraud prevention mechanisms
- Strengthening internal controls and governance across public bodies
Joshua Reddaway, Director of Fraud and Propriety, National Audit Office (invited)
Case Study: Tackling Housing Fraud: Preventing Tenancy and Right-to-Buy Abuse
- Outlining how false Right-to-Buy applications are being used to exploit discount schemes through misrepresenting tenancy status, or claiming a property as a principal home when it is not
- Examining criminal prosecution risk for applications based on false or misleading information
- Highlighting cases in which a local council uncovered a tenant using a fraudulent right-to-buy applications and illegal sub-letting of council homes
- Exploring how organised or sophisticated actors may exploit the Right-to-Buy scheme by coordinating false applications or using third parties
Paul Rock, Assistant Director of Internal Audit and Counter Fraud, Lambeth Council (invited)
Questions & Answers
Breakout Networking: Building a Joined-Up Counter Fraud Community
Use this opportunity to discuss any recent fraud cases, emerging patterns, or operational challenges your organisation has encountered, and share insights on how cross-sector collaboration could have improved detection or response.
Comfort Break
Keynote: Counter-Fraud Resilience During Local Government Re-Organisation and Making Best Use of Unlawful Profit Orders
- Embedding counter-fraud resilience into local government reorganisation plans
- Strengthening governance and maintaining fraud intelligence continuity during change
- Leveraging UPOs to recover public funds and reinforce tenancy enforcement
- Creating a unified fraud prevention culture through organisational transition
Scott Warner, Counter Fraud Manager, Oxford City Council (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Strengthening Data Sharing Across Local Councils
- Local Authority Counter Fraud Report 2025 – Key Findings regarding Local Government Counter-Fraud Response
- Identifying the core challenges that limit effective data sharing between local authorities
- Examining governance requirements alongside ethical frameworks and privacy safeguards
- Cross-sector data-sharing opportunities that may improve fraud detection and support faster disruption
Lavinia Ferguson Dean, Membership and Communications Manager, National Anti-Fraud Network (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Previous Speakers
Dr Rasha Kassem
Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Leader of the Fraud Research Group
Aston University
Frances Coulson
Deputy Chair, Fraud Advisory Panel and Partner
Wedlake Bell
Rachael Tiffen
Director of Public Sector and Learning
Cifas
Dr David Shepherd
Senior Lecturer Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime
University of Portsmouth
Testimonials
Great event with the opportunity to keep up to date on the latest development, training and insights on public sector fraud and how the various sectors and organisations collaborate to tackle incidences.
Good range of speakers and subjects covered.
A good event for providing an overview and the scale of the threat of fraud to the public sector with good advice on how to begin to tackle the issue.
A really good session with relevant topics and speakers on public sector fraud.
Why You Should Attend?
Why Attend?
- Gain up-to-date insights on the evolving fraud landscape
- Learn practical strategies to strengthen prevention, detection and organisational culture
- Hear real-world examples of successful counter-fraud interventions across the public sector
- Discover how data and technology can improve fraud resilience
- Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Who Should Attend?
| Job Title Example | Organisation Examples |
| Directors of Compliance | Healthcare Services |
| Fraud & Investigations manager | Local Authorities |
| Forensic Accountant | Universities |
| Audit Manager | Public Benefit Providers |
| Counter Fraud Specialists | Information Commissioners |
| Head of Economic Crime | Counter Fraud Organisations |
| Corporate Fraud Manager | Police |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise Your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us HERE
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
