Report fraud or economic crime to Homes England

Fraud is a dishonest and deliberate act which may be a criminal offence. Irregularity is a suspicion of a problem, and errors may be unintentional mistakes or negligence. They all may have a financial consequence. They can be described as acts of:

• theft or misuse of property
• deception, forgery and concealment of material facts
• bribery or corruption
• embezzlement and misappropriation of funds
• conspiracy, collusion and extortion

Homes England takes fraud and economic crime seriously.

Modern slavery, money laundering, tax evasion, bribery, and corruption are dishonest and deliberate acts that impact on human safety and economic wellbeing.

Homes England wants to prevent, and detect, fraudulent activity and economic crime.

We will investigate all cases of potential economic crime, fraud, and irregularities. We may, where necessary, use one or more of the following:

• disciplinary action
• criminal proceedings
• civil proceedings

We will treat all information provided to us in confidence. This will be in accordance with our obligations under data protection legislation.

What you can report

If you suspect wrongdoing, economic crime, fraud or irregularity, let us know. This includes:

• theft or misuse of assets and property
• false representation such as lying, hiding information or facts
• procurement, contractual, credit, or payment fraud
• bribery and corruption
• wrongful payroll events, mis-claims and errors in allowances
• misuse of Homes England property or services such as commercial vehicles, hire cars, plant and equipment
• cybercrime and identity related fraud
• modern slavery and human trafficking including those committed through our contracting arrangements

You can also let us know about irregularities, errors and mistakes which result in suspicion of wrongdoing or financial loss to Homes England or others.

We are not able to investigate matters that are not related to Homes England’s areas of responsibility.

How to report

Anyone can send an email to: mlro@homesengland.gov.uk.

You must report your suspicions as soon as possible, no matter how small you feel they may be. When reporting your concern, you must have a reasonable belief that it is true.

If you work for Homes England and there is anything you are not sure about, you can contact the economic crime team to talk about it. You can find information on the Homes England intranet.

Choosing to provide contact details

You can submit your information of fraud and wrongdoing anonymously. However, it does limit our ability to investigate and provide feedback. If you request anonymity, we may not be able to guarantee it, for example in a criminal case. We will contact you to discuss any likelihood of disclosure of your identity. 

If you provide your contact details

With your contact details Homes England will:

• keep your details in strict confidence
• let you know we have received your report
• ask you for further information if needed

If you do not provide your contact details

Without your contact details Homes England:

• will not be able to let you know we have received your report
• will not provide any updates
• may not be able to investigate your report if there is not enough evidence
• may not be able to direct your report to another organisation as we cannot obtain your permission

Let us know if there are any sensitivities about contacting you directly or any contact preferences.

What to include when reporting concerns

When you tell us what you are concerned about, you should include:

• a description of the issue — include as much information as you can such as significance or value, names, dates, times, locations, contract details, payments
• whether you witnessed the activity yourself or somebody else told you about it
• whether the issue has been reported before
• whether you have any documentation or other evidence — do not send this yet
• an estimation of the financial value (in pounds) or why it is important
• the names of any additional people involved including any witnesses (if known)
• dates, times and locations when the events happened
• any details of contracts, claims or payments made
• what you would like to happen as a result of raising your concerns

Stick to what you believe to be true, rather than for example, what you believe others have heard. It may help to detail your concern chronologically.

Whistleblowers reporting concerns

We recognise that some reporters will be acting as whistleblowers. We will do our best to keep your identity confidential, including from your employer or managers, unless you choose to waive this option.

Only Homes England workers may have employment protections when reporting fraud as a whistleblower. Be reassured that we take all concerns raised confidentially and seriously. Read the whistleblowing guidance on the Homes England intranet for more information on protections.

If you are unsure whether a disclosure is protected you should seek independent advice.

Raising fraud or economic crime concerns unrelated to Homes England

You can inform: 

• the police (external website) — about a crime
• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) — if you have concerns about tax, like money laundering or tax evasion
• Action Fraud (external website) — if you suspect fraud