The Benefit Fraud Service
The aim of our service:
- To provide an efficient and effective benefit fraud investigation service.
- To investigate all types of benefit fraud, in a lawful, professional and courteous manner, in order to ensure the right benefit is paid to the right person at the right time
- We will investigate and punish offenders in accordance with our Prosecution Policy.
- We will endeavour to work in partnership will colleagues and other agencies as appropriate.
The services we provide:
- We investigate all types of benefit fraud in accordance with current legislation
- We refer appropriate cases for prosecution to the Police/Crown Prosecution Service or, in certain circumstances, the Solicitors Branch (Prosecution) of the Department for Work and Pensions. In addition, in some circumstances, we consider cases for disposal by means of an Administrative Penalty (fine) or a Formal Caution, as an alternative to Prosecution.
- We participate in the Audit Commission and Department for Work and Pensions Data Matching initiatives.
- We work to ensure the 'public purse' is protected.
- We work in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions and other agencies as appropriate.
The standards our customers should expect:
- We will conduct benefit fraud investigations and project assignments in a professional, sensitive, confidential and lawful manner,
- We will provide details of the outcome of investigations in respect of the financial savings/gain to the Government/Authority.
- We will provide advice and guidance to members of staff in respect of fraud referrals and provide regular, relevant training to all front-line staff involved in the administration of benefits.
- We will continue to work in partnership and liaise regularly, with the Benefits section and other members of staff, to ensure our service to the customer is maintained.
- We will build on current expertise in all Benefit fraud related issues, and ensure new legislation is incorporated and implemented successfully into the unit's practices.
- We will monitor progress, outcome and quality of investigations to ensure a cost effective and efficient service is maintained