CFEU’s Emma Cathcart wins Female Pioneer of the Year at Public Sector Fraud Awards

The CFEU, a six-council partnership which includes Cotswold District Council, was also shortlisted in the same awards for Team of the Year for their exceptional work in fraud investigation.

The team’s achievements include complex, high-profile investigations such as the recent successful prosecution of an employee for polygamous working across multiple councils - a case resulting in a three-year prison sentence and ongoing recovery of £250,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

In addition, Emma and her team led on the development of the Glass Jar website – a new one stop hub designed to help people recognise, report, and protect themselves from fraud.

Emma said: “I’m honoured to receive the award for Female Pioneer of the Year and delighted that the CFEU team have received national recognition. Our role can be challenging at times, but the work is essential to make sure that public funds and the councils we support are protected.”

Emma began her career as a Benefit Fraud Investigator at Cotswold District Council before spearheading the creation of the CFEU - a shared service that supports the six partner councils and multiple external clients. Despite having no formal training in managing a shared service, Emma built the unit from the ground up, navigating complex governance arrangements and securing its long-term success. 

Under Emma’s leadership, the CFEU has grown into a respected team of 16 officers, delivering fraud prevention, investigation, and enforcement support across a wide range of areas, including planning, environmental crime, licensing, and food safety.