AN INVESTIGATIVE team set up in Oxford to tackle fraud has won a national award for its pioneering work.

Figures published earlier this year revealed the Oxford City Council team prevented more than £3.6m in losses to the public purse in just its first year of operation.

And it has now been given the 'excellence in corporate fraud' award by the Institute of

Revenues, Ratings and Valuation (IRRV).

The fraud team was launched in April 2015 after the government changed the responsibilities of councils.

Types of fraud it tackles include people who are wrongly trying to access council tax discounts, the right-to-buy and social housing.

The team was competed with 44 other local authorities for the IRRV award and was also inspected.

A report to the city council's audit and governance committee said the win would cement the 'already excellent reputation of the team at a national level'.

Team leader Scott Warner wrote: "This award provides assurance to stakeholders, committee members and the communities of Oxford that the team are delivering an efficient, effective, class leading corporate fraud investigation function for the council and its partner organisations."

The audit and governance committee is due to discuss the report on Wednesday, December 14.

The meeting starts at 6pm at Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate's.