COUNCILLORS have called for an investigation into the role Southend Council played in a heavily criticised fraud investigation team reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
It was revealed in May the National Investigation Service, run by Thurrock Council, had come under fire for mismanagement, misrepresentation and acting beyond its powers following an independent investigation.
Natis, which predominantly investigated fraudulent covid grant claims, has since been taken away from Thurrock and is now Government-run.
Previously known as the Counter Fraud Investigation Department, it was created as a a partnership between Thurrock, Castle Point and Southend council, to work collaboratively to prevent fraud.
Natis was formed in 2018 when Thurrock dropped out of the scheme. The Southend service was renamed the Counter Fraud Investigation Team and continued to work independently.
Tony Cox, leader of the Reform Group has tabled a motion to investigate Southend Council’s involvement in CFID and Natis.
The motion said: “Natis staff had police email addresses, police website domains were used, warrant cards produced, restraint training given. Police-looking uniform provided including handcuffs issued, use of the Crown logo on court and Southend Council documents and quoted statutory police arrest codes to their suspects, all when this team had no powers of arrest.”
Mr Cox, who was himself investigated by Natis after a false accusation of fraud from which he was later exonerated, added: “We are of the view that there is a need for an independent investigation related to the activities of CFID/Natis on the work undertaken for this council.”
The motion, which was seconded by Darryl Jones, Reform councillor for Southchurch Ward, calls for the inquiry to look at the “permissions given by the council as to how it entered into the arrangement, the legality of the investigations that led to prosecutions and the convictions secured by CFID/Natis in Southend and whether they were unsafe”.
Mr Cox said: “We said that we would we be asking the appropriate questions. There were a lot of unanswered questions and the only way I think we can get to the bottom of it what Southend Council’s involvement was within is to have independent investigation.”
A council spokesperson said: “The Notice of Motion will be considered by Council on July 9 as part of the democratic process, and it would be inappropriate for us to comment prior to the outcome of that process.”
