NATIONAL AWARD FOR THE MARGATE TASK FORCE

The Margate Task Force was last night (Thursday 6 December) awarded the prestigious Collaboration Award at the inaugural national Fighting Fraud Awards held in London.

The awards are sponsored by the National Fraud Authority and the Cabinet Office and recognise excellence, innovation and the efforts of those individuals and organisations within the public sector that have done the most to combat and prevent fraud. Nominations were assessed by a board of experts and a distinguished panel of judges decided the winners.

The standard of entries was described by the judges as exceptional and there was tough competition from other finalists in this category from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The Collaboration Award, sponsored by Experian, is awarded to a team that has worked collaboratively to fight fraud with at least one other organisation or external stakeholder and the criteria include: 

• Demonstrates a joined up approach and shared vision, in order to increase fraud detection and prevention, and improve investigation and prosecution;
• Shared costs and resources and provides benefits for all parties, in order to increase fraud detection and prevention, and improve investigation and prosecution;
• Demonstrates that the objectives of collaboration were met.

The Margate Task Force consists of officers from 14 different agencies including Thanet District Council, Kent County Council, Kent Fire & Rescue, Kent Police and Job Centre Plus that are co-located within the Thanet District Council offices. They work collaboratively, engaging at street level, to better identify issues and serve the needs of the community.

Cabinet Member for Community Services Cllr. Iris Johnson said: “I am delighted that the outstanding achievements of the Margate Task Force have been recognised at a national level. Thanet District Council is very proud of the whole team and the co-location of the 14 agencies on one floor of the council offices has led to very positive outcomes.”