Freedom of information response
Counter Fraud and Investigation Directorate
I have tried to find out this information on the Council websites but I have not been able to find it, if it is published, then please can you provide a link to the relevant page.
My enquiry relates to the Counter Fraud and Investigation Directorate (CFID) which was a collaboration between Southend on Sea Borough Council, Thurrock Council, Castle Point Borough Council and South Essex Homes.
I am given to understand that the collaboration began in 2016 and came to an end in 2019 however Thurrock had a version of the CFID, known as the FID, operating since 2013.
My enquiry relates to both the pre collaboration era, and, the collaboration period.
1. Please provide a copy of the "Joint Working Arrangement" and the “Memorandum of Understanding” (also known as the memo) between Thurrock Council and the Legal Aid Authority in 2013
2, In a previous response to FOI RESPONSE 13025 which asked for “a copy of any documentation, email or letter relating to a service level agreement or memorandum of understanding between the CFID and Essex Police relating to staff and / or use of facilities.”
You were kind enough to supply a document entitled “Annex A” which related to an agreement between the CFID and the "Paedophile On-Line Investigation Team (POLIT)” of Kent Police.
Notwithstanding that, there do appear to be agreements in place that were not disclosed in relation to FOI 13025. I accept that, perhaps, I could have phrased my enquiry better. With that in mind, please provide copies of the agreements detailed below.
A) On review of the 2016/17 Annual report of the CFID available online at Microsoft Word - Appendix 1 - CFID 2016-17 Annual Report (thurrock.gov.uk) on page 4 it states that “Operational collaboration agreements were made with these partners” and lists the following organisations
• Essex Police,
• Kent Police,
• The Serious Crime Directorate of Essex and Kent Police, and,
• The Metropolitan Police
So, please provide copies of the Operational Collaboration Agreements
b) On reviewing the 2017/2018 Annual report of the CFID, available online at Appendix 1 - CFID Annual Report 201718.pdf (thurrock.gov.uk), on page 4 it states “Operational collaboration agreements are being developed with these partners” and lists the following organisations
• The Eastern Region Specialist Operations Unit,
• The Metropolitan Police, and,
• The Home Office
Again, please provide copies of the Operational Collaboration Agreements
3) Please provide any minutes of meetings or briefing papers connected to the above agreements
4) In the CFID Annual Report for 2018/19, Appendix 1 - CFID Annual Report 201819.pdf (thurrock.gov.uk)as part of the work plan, on page 21 it indicates that “Michael Dineen” was responsible for “Review of Insider Threat Investigations with Human Resources to review Actions and Learning Points”.
Please provide a list of how many monthly meetings actually took place, set out what prompted the need for the meetings, the remit of those meetings, and, what lessons were learned.
5) Again, the CFID Annual Report for 2018/19, Appendix 1 - CFID Annual Report 201819.pdf (thurrock.gov.uk)as part of the work plan, on page 21 it indicates “Fraud Awareness Training”.
Please provide all training materials used by the CFID delivered internally to other departments between 2016 and 2019.
6) Can you clarify if “Michael Dineen” was a Thurrock employee, an employee of another local authority, or, a consultant.
1, Please provide a copy of the "Joint Working Arrangement" and the “Memorandum of Understanding” (also known as the memo) between Thurrock Council and the Legal Aid Authority in 2013
This is a legal agreement between the Council and the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) and as such has conditions/requirements regarding the sharing of the document. I am not able to provide this document at this time as will require agreement from the LAA.
2, In a previous response to FOI RESPONSE 13025 which asked for “a copy of any documentation, email or letter relating to a service level agreement or memorandum of understanding between the CFID and Essex Police relating to staff and / or use of facilities.”
A) On review of the 2016/17 Annual report of the CFID available online at Microsoft Word - Appendix 1 - CFID 2016-17 Annual Report (thurrock.gov.uk) on page 4 it states that “Operational collaboration agreements were made with these partners” and lists the following organisations
• Essex Police,
• Kent Police,
• The Serious Crime Directorate of Essex and Kent Police, and,
• The Metropolitan Police
So, please provide copies of the Operational Collaboration Agreements
These are operational collaboration documents and as such form part of a specific criminal investigation. These will not be disclosed as they form part of a criminal investigation.
b) On reviewing the 2017/2018 Annual report of the CFID, available online at Appendix 1 - CFID Annual Report 201718.pdf (thurrock.gov.uk), on page 4 it states “Operational collaboration agreements are being developed with these partners” and lists the following organisations
• The Eastern Region Specialist Operations Unit,
• The Metropolitan Police, and,
• The Home Office
Again, please provide copies of the Operational Collaboration Agreements
These are operational collaboration documents and as such form part of a specific criminal investigation. These will not be disclosed as they form part of a criminal investigation.
3) Please provide any minutes of meetings or briefing papers connected to the above agreements
These do not exist
4) In the CFID Annual Report for 2018/19, Appendix 1 - CFID Annual Report 201819.pdf (thurrock.gov.uk)as part of the work plan, on page 21 it indicates that “Michael Dineen” was responsible for “Review of Insider Threat Investigations with Human Resources to review Actions and Learning Points”.
Please provide a list of how many monthly meetings actually took place, set out what prompted the need for the meetings, the remit of those meetings, and, what lessons were learned.
Monthly meetings take place between the Fraud team and HR, however these meetings have no minutes. There was no specific reason for these meetings to take place and are simply in place so that all are aware of any issues that may be arising within the organisation.
5) Again, the CFID Annual Report for 2018/19, Appendix 1 - CFID Annual Report 201819.pdf (thurrock.gov.uk)as part of the work plan, on page 21 it indicates “Fraud Awareness Training”.
Please provide all training materials used by the CFID delivered internally to other departments between 2016 and 2019.
These can not be currently ‘pulled’ from the system and cannot be forwarded onwards.
6) Can you clarify if “XX” was a Thurrock employee, an employee of another local authority, or, a consultant.
XX is a Thurrock Council employee