Shropshire fire service investigating internal fraud case
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is investigating an internal fraud case, its top officer has said.
Chief Fire Officer Rod Hammerton said it is a ‘low-level’ allegation of misappropriation, which is being handled by the service’s own disciplinary process.
A Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority committee was discussing the brigade’s 2018-19 auditors’ report, which recorded no other fraud cases that year.
Phil Jones, a member of the Grant Thornton team who carried out the audit, said they were “broadly satisfied” with the answers the brigade had given.
A section of their report takes the form of a question-and-answer dialogue between the auditors and the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service management.
They asked: “Have any specific risks, or areas with a high risk of fraud, been identified?”
The service’s reported answer was: “There are no material instances of fraud that have been identified during the year.”
Rod Hammerton told them that the service was aware of one case not covered by that document.
He said: “It’s something that is currently in our disciplinary process.
Resources
“It’s very low-level but, by the nature of what is alleged, it has to be treated as fraud.”
Officer Hammerton described it as a “small case of potential misappropriation of our resources”.
The Grant Thornton report confirms that the brigade encourages ethical behaviour among its staff and contractors.
It states: “Through the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy, staff are encouraged to report concerns in the first instance to their line manager or, if this is not appropriate, to a senior manager.
“A Brigade Order on Whistleblowing is also available to staff, which gives details about the support and safeguards that are available to those who do raise concerns.”
Mr Jones, the auditors’ engagement lead, and audit manager David Rowley confirmed to the Fire Authority’s Audit and Performance Management Committee that they were satisfied the brigade’s finances and risk management were strong.
Their fee for carrying out the assessment was £21,996, a reduction of more than £6,500 on the previous year’s charge.
