The work of the National Investigation Service (Natis) will move from Thurrock Council to the Insolvency Service this summer, in plans to be announced by the Business and Trade Minister Gareth Thomas on Thursday 15 May.
NATIS has been based within Thurrock Council since it was first established in 2017, with its 74 staff based across the UK. Since 2020 its main client has been central government, who commissioned NATIS to lead national investigations into fraud related to COVID-19 business grants. Its investigations are carried out in partnership with the government and UK law enforcement organisations.
NATIS and the Insolvency Service will be reviewing the organisation’s caseload over the next 5-6 weeks to determine which cases, and as a result which staff, will transfer.
Responding to the announcement, the Leader of Thurrock Council, Cllr John Kent, said: “I’m pleased that the future of work of the National Investigation Service is looking secure, and that this important work will transfer to a national organisation with a focus on tackling financial wrongdoing.
"In the last 18 months NATIS has worked hard to improve their governance and deliver results for the taxpayer, through the commitment of staff in the service, as evidenced by previous independent reviews commissioned by the DBT.
"Thurrock Council is on its own significant improvement journey, and so we are pleased that this important work will benefit from the dedicated focus and resources of a national agency.”