Artificial intelligence is no longer a future prospect for public sector counter fraud work - it is already being deployed in meaningful ways across UK government and local authorities. A recent webinar brought together practitioners and technology experts to discuss where AI is currently making a difference, and the picture that emerged was one of cautious but genuine progress.
The Fraud Risk Assessment Accelerator
Jennifer Evans, Project Manager at the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA), outlined one of the most concrete examples of AI in action: the Fraud Risk Assessment Accelerator. Jennifer described the AI tool as a capability that simulates how fraudsters might exploit government schemes - hosted securely and built on large language models, but guided throughout by expert knowledge from counter-fraud professionals at the PSFA.
Jennifer explained that a traditional fraud risk assessment is a lengthy process, often taking several weeks to complete. The Accelerator does not attempt to replace that process. Instead, it focuses on the time-consuming early stage: taking a policy or scheme document and generating an initial list of potential fraud risks based on known fraud typologies. That first output - produced within minutes - then gives Fraud Risk Assessors a structured starting point from which they can apply their expertise to consider mitigations, controls, and risk management.
"The part that we use the AI for is literally just that first little bit," adding that the intention is to let the experts focus on their true areas of expertise.
How It Has Worked in Practice
Nick Jennings, Head of the Hertfordshire Shared Anti-Fraud Service (SAFS), was one of the first practitioners to pilot the Accelerator and described the experience as genuinely impressive. Nick said SAFS was invited to take part in the pilot and used it on a couple of smaller schemes in order to test it against work they already understood well.
Nick explained that his team found the tool valuable primarily as a starting point. Rather than having to begin a risk assessment from scratch - deciding where to start and how to structure it - the Accelerator produces a framework and a reliable template within minutes. Nick noted that his team then had greater confidence in the results when they applied it to less familiar territory.
Nick also noted that he considers himself a self-described technophobe, but that even he found the tool straightforward to understand and use.
Broader Applications Across Government
Beyond the Accelerator, Jennifer described a wider range of ways AI and emerging technology are being used in the counter-fraud space. These range from generative AI tools at the prevention end of the process through to machine learning applied to large datasets - work aimed at identifying patterns that can direct Investigators towards areas of higher risk.
Jennifer said the PSFA is helping government departments analyse large datasets more effectively, using technology to point out where counter-fraud activity should be focused, rather than relying solely on manual review.
A Considered Approach
Both Jennifer and Nick were clear that the value of these tools lies in how carefully they have been deployed. Jennifer emphasised that validation by the people who actually do the work has been central to the Accelerator's development from the very beginning. Nick's experience in the pilot reflected that: his team tested the tool against known cases before trusting it with new ones, which is an approach he described as essential when something new and unfamiliar is introduced.
The Fraud Risk Assessment Accelerator is currently free to use for public bodies across the UK and is open to local authorities. Jennifer confirmed it will remain free until at least April of next year. LEARN MORE >> https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fraud-risk-assessment-fra-accelerator
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Jennifer Evans, Project Manager at the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA)
Head of the Hertfordshire Shared Anti-Fraud Service (SAFS)
This post is based on a webinar on "AI and fraud prevention in the public sector", featuring speakers from the Public Sector Fraud Authority, the Hertfordshire Shared Anti-Fraud Service, NUIX, and D2 Legal Technologies. Listen to the whole thing for free here >> https://register.govnet.co.uk/webinar-ai-vs-fraud
Jessica Kimbell, GovNet
