I would like to know the following relating to the Crossrail project: 1. The number of staff (by full-time equivalents) who have been employed specifically to counter fraud and corruption by reporting years since the project began? (For example if the reporting year was 2017 and there were 2 full-time staff and one part-time the answer would be 2.5).. 2. The number of cases of fraud and corruption detected in each of the reporting years since the project began and the total value in £ of these detected cases.

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TfL Ref: FOI-3753-1920

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 5^th March 2020 asking for information about the Crossrail project.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.

I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below:

Question 1. The number of staff (by full-time equivalents) who have been employed specifically to counter fraud and corruption by reporting years since the project began? (For example if the reporting year was 2017 and there were 2 full-time staff and one part-time the answer would be 2.5)?

It is not possible to provide an answer to the question as asked – i.e. to give a specific, full-time equivalent figure. Crossrail Limited (a subsidiary of TfL) itself has not employed anybody specifically to counter fraud and corruption. Rather, this function has been carried out by TfL centrally via its Counter-fraud and Corruption team. The set-up of the team has largely remained the same over recent years. There are currently 5 full time employees, and the team also utilised a data analyst in the past (who was a joint resource with the Internal Audit team). However, members of that team were not/are not solely responsible for countering fraud and corruption within the Crossrail project. It is therefore not possible to give a precise figure as to the full-time equivalent staff numbers in regard to the time spent on the Crossrail project as opposed to other matters.

2. The number of cases of fraud and corruption detected in each of the reporting years since the project began and the total value in £ of these detected cases.

Please see the information below, compiled following a review of the records held and which shows the number of referrals / cases dealt with by the TfL Counter-fraud and Corruption team since 2008/09. The data is by financial year (1^st April to 31^st March):

2008 / 09 – No referrals

2009 / 10 – No referrals

2010 / 11 – 1 referral. 3 people convicted. Value c£100k.

2011 / 12 – 1 referral. 1 person convicted. Value c£739K.

2012 / 13 – 2 referrals. No crime established in either case.

2013 / 14 – No referrals.

2014 / 15 – 1 referral. No crime established.

2015 / 16 – 1 referral. No crime established.

2016 / 17 – 1 referral. Value c£169k. Investigation is ongoing. All cash has been recovered.

2017 / 18 – No referrals

2018 / 19 – 1 referral. 3 external employees not employed directly by Crossrail Limited had contracts terminated. No value identified.

2019 / 20 – 2 referrals to date. Investigations are ongoing in both cases.

If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.

On a more general point, note that the Government has announced a series of measures to tackle the Coronavirus. It is essential for London, and in particular for all critical workers, that we continue to provide a safe transport network that enables them to make the journeys they need to. In current circumstances, we are not able to answer FOI requests readily and we ask that you please do not make a request to us at present. Answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. In any event, please note that our response time will be affected by the current situation.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely,

David Wells

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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