Lambeth beats two more fraudsters

12.48.12pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 2nd Mar 2006

Lambeth has added two more successful prosecutions for fraud to its long list, signalling the council's commitment to crack down on fraud.

Tackling the two fraudsters - who had obtained over £15,000 by deception - is the latest step in a major project. The council's fraud investigations team has now been responsible for the prosecution of 74 benefit offenders, while 93 more have been subjected to penalties and cautions.

21 more legal cases are in the pipeline.

"These prosecutions underline the council's message to all those seeking to practice fraud, " said Lib Dem councillor Ashley Lumsden, Lambeth executive member for finance.

"Stealing from the council is exactly the same as stealing from your honest neighbour who fulfils his duty as a citizen, pays his bills to the council and does not claim anything to which he or she is not entitled. We will investigate all such instances of fraud and prosecute in proven cases, " he said.

The council worked with Department for Work and Pensions data matching to identify and stop the fraud. Both cases were investigated and prosecuted by the in-house legal team, and heard at Camberwell Magistrates Court recently.

The first concerned Mr K of Leigham Court Road , who was sentenced to a community punishment order of 180 hours and ordered to pay the council £200 in costs. He was found guilty of obtaining £9589 housing benefit and £660 council tax benefit by deception.

In the other case, Mr T of Lambeth Walk was given a community punishment order of 140 hours and ordered to pay costs of £315, to be paid at a rate of £10 a week. He was found guilty of obtaining £3874 housing benefit and £1397 council tax benefit by deception.