Welwyn Hatfield council clamping down on benefit fraud (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Welwyn Hatfield council clamping down on benefit fraud

5:14pm Tuesday 20th April 2010 in News By Manisha Mistry

WELWYN Hatfield Borough Council is warning residents of its policy of clamping down on benefit fraud following a number of successful prosecutions over the past year.

Out of the 14 individuals prosecuted and 39 cautioned for committing the fraud, one offender was handed a suspended jail sentence.

Christine Salter, of Maran Avenue, Welwyn, pleaded guilty to charges of fraudulently claiming more than £40,000 in council tax and housing benefits over a period of time. She was given a suspended 12 week custodial sentence and ordered to undertake 200 hours of community service.

In total the combined amount fraudulently claimed from the borough council from 2009 to 2010 was £117, 304 – with some individual cases taking more than £10,000.

Bob Jewell, director of finance and operation at the borough council, said: “Benefit fraud is a crime which impacts directly on the local community. False claims mean there are less resources available to help those in genuine need and can also lead to tax increases.

“An increasingly large proportion of benefit fraud committed in the borough is not only being detected but followed through with prosecutions.

“If you commit benefit fraud it's not a question of whether you'll be caught, but when, and may lead to a prison sentence and a criminal record.”