Liverpool Council staff have been abused online for simply working at the organisation, an authority officer has claimed.
As members of the city council’s audit committee were informed of its new counter fraud policy and how it can impact the reputation of the local authority, Paul Stratton told councillors members of staff at the Cunard Building had faced online backlash simply for doing their jobs. Labour’s chief whip accused some councillors of stoking such behaviour.
The committee formally adopted the fighting fraud and corruption together (FFCT) strategy as investigator Mr Stratton outlined how such offences can impact the local authority. The new approach is described as the foundation for all activity which seeks to tackle the threat from fraud, bribery, and wider corrupt practice from within and outside the council.
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The new document, shared with members when they met at Liverpool Town Hall on Wednesday, calls on everyone working for or with the council to call out corruption. It said: “The amount of public finance the council administers, the diverse services and functions it delivers, and the amount of sensitive information it manages makes it an attractive target for criminals seeking to steal money, data, or corrupt our people and decision making.
“The perception of wrongdoing by council officials (officers and members) can be damaging to our organisation so it is essential that everyone knows to report concerns, declare personal interests which may clash with council business, and be able to recognise where others try to influence our work improperly.” Trust in the authority’s ability to administer public finances properly and confidence its decision making is in the public's interest, is severely damaged when internal corruption can thrive.
Mr Stratton, who hit the headlines for his selfless work helping those fleeing the Ukraine conflict last year, said as a result staff who have Liverpool Council as their employer visible online have received abuse. Labour group chief whip, Cllr Ruth Bennett, described those who are abusing staff online as “trolls” and claimed some have been “encouraged by councillors.”
Cllr Richard Kemp, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said the council needs to be “explicit about how hard we will be on people who try and steal taxpayers money.” A roll-out plan will now take place following the approval of the new anti-fraud policy by the audit committee, with the plans to be re-assessed in two years time.
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