Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint the Council is xenophobic, that it falsified his signature, and that the Council committed identity theft. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault. In addition, there is another body better placed to consider Mr X’s complaint.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council is xenophobic. He also complains the Council has falsified his signature and committed identify theft by pretending to be him when speaking to estate agents.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start an investigation if we decide:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating,
• there is another body better placed to consider this complaint.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X approached the Council as homeless and is receiving support from the Council’s housing department.
6. Mr X has not provided any specific examples to support his view the Council is xenophobic. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to support Mr X’s view and an investigation is not justified for this reason as we are unlikely to find fault. I acknowledge Mr X’s view the Council has not done enough to support him with his housing situation. However, disagreement over the Council’s actions does not automatically mean the Council is xenophobic.
7. Mr X has not provided specific information of what documents he considers the Council forged. Therefore, an investigation is not justified as there is insufficient evidence of fault.
8. Finally, Mr X confirmed he had passed on details of the identity theft to the police to investigate. Given this, I am satisfied the police is better place to consider this complaint and to consider whether any criminal offence has taken place.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault. In addition, there is another body better placed to consider Mr X’s complaint about identity theft.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman