Hundreds taken to court in blitz on false claims

Hundreds of benefit cheats are being prosecuted across the region as councils crack down on false claims for help with council tax and rent, it has been revealed.

Authorities have taken to court 250 cases that have resulted in convictions for illegal claiming of council and housing tax benefit.

And they have warned that they will continue to target the culprits through surveillance and by checking people's records.

In Sandwell, from April last year 76 people were prosecuted for either housing or council tax benefit fraud, while 40 were issued fines and 62 received cautions. In 2010/11, 52 were prosecuted.

In Wolverhampton 64 prosecutions have been brought since last April. In addition, council officers have issued 43 formal cautions and imposed 25 administrative penalties, which is a 30 per cent fine on top of the money they have to pay back. The previous year, there were 63 prosecutions.

Dudley Council has investigated 466 cases of suspected benefit fraud. This compares to 53 taken to court and prosecuted in 2010/11.

Walsall Council prosecuted 47 cheats, and 33 of these prosecutions included Department for Work and Pensions benefits.

South Staffordshire Council prosecuted 19 benefit tricksters from April last year, and in 2010/11 18 were successfully taken to court.