The Fraud Risk in Planning - Regional Response Protocol outlines the actions to be taken by Planning Authorities (including the Department) and other relevant public bodies, to detect, prevent and minimise the risk of fraud within the planning system and to put in place procedures to respond and manage any risk identified.
The Protocol has been developed in partnership with the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE), given the role of District Councils as local planning authorities (LPAs). It is designed to supplement and support rather than replace the relevant governance and anti-fraud policies and procedures already in place within individual organisations.
The work to develop the Protocol was part of the planning system’s response to falsified soil sample reports submitted to a number of LPAs in support of applications for planning permission for agricultural development (which were the subject of a Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report published in July 2024.
The Protocol will be implemented through a newly established Planning Fraud Regional Response Team (PFRRT) which will be represented by staff from the Department and LPAs.