COVID 19 Grants - Fair Processing Notice
This page provides the full fair processing notice for the use of the Cifas National Fraud Database by local authorities in the context of the issuing of government grants connected to COVID-19, with further details of how your information will be used as well as information about your data protection rights.
GENERAL
1. Local authorities are responsible for carrying out checks to ensure that payments for the Government’s COVID-19 grant scheme are made correctly, and so will undertake checks for the purposes of preventing fraud and money laundering, and to verify your identity. These checks involve the processing of personal data about you, and this can be both before any money is paid and afterwards.
2. The personal data you have provided, has been collected from you, or has been received from third parties will be used to prevent fraud and money laundering, and to verify your identity. This includes the checking of your details against the Cifas National Fraud Database established for the purpose of allowing organisations to record and share data on fraudulent conduct by individuals and organisations.
3. Details of the personal information that will be processed include, for example: name, address, date of birth, contact details, financial information, and business details.
4. Local authorities and Cifas may also enable law enforcement agencies to access and use your personal data to detect, investigate, and prevent crime.
5. Local authorities will process your personal data on the basis that it is necessary in the public interest or in exercising official authority to prevent fraud and money laundering, and to verify identity, and to comply with the law. Cifas will process your personal data on the basis that it has a legitimate interest in preventing fraud and money laundering, and to verify identity, in order to help protect the public purse. Cifas has published its assessment of the legitimate interests in relation to the National Fraud Database.
6. Records of searches will be retained by Cifas only for as long is as necessary to assist local authorities in the prevention of fraud.
CONSEQUENCES OF PROCESSING
7. If a local authority determines that you pose a fraud or money laundering risk, if may delay payment of a grant while it seeks proof of eligibility or identity. The Government will not accept deliberate manipulation and fraud – and any business caught falsifying their records to gain additional grant money will face prosecution and any funding issued will be subject to claw back, as may any grants paid in error.
YOUR RIGHTS
8. Your personal data is protected by legal rights, which include your rights to object to processing of your personal data, request that your personal data is erased or corrected, and request access to your personal data.
9. For more information or to exercise your data protection rights, please contact the local authority that referred you to this page. Cifas can be contacted through the main Contact Us page.
10. You also have a right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office which regulates the processing of personal data.
