The on-going fight against the theft of public money has once again been documented in North East Lincolnshire Council’s annual fraud report.

Covering the period from April 2013 to March 2014, the report sets out the council’s policy on dealing with those who try to steal money, both from inside and outside of the organisation.

During this time, enforcement action has included investigations and subsequent disciplinary hearings where staff fraud or financial misconduct was suspected.

Six council employees were dismissed without notice with one staff member resigning prior to a disciplinary hearing. Examples of the issues for which staff were dismissed include theft, misuse of information and abuse of the time management system. In four cases, employees received a warning due to the nature of their conduct.

Successful court prosecutions of staff and contractors relating to investigations completed in previous years included one prosecution resulting in a four month jail sentence and an order to repay the council £1,400.00. Another case resulted in a suspended one year jail sentence being imposed.

There were successful prosecutions of 23 individuals for committing benefit fraud. Additionally a further 14 individuals were offered and accepted either an Administrative Penalty or a Simple Caution as an alternative to prosecution. Overpaid benefit, including DWP benefits, amounting to £222,663.50 were identified as a result of these investigations.

And benefit fraud investigation also identified a further £674,753.11 of overpaid benefits, including benefits administered by DWP, where no prosecution or sanction was sought.

Action will be taken in all cases to recover this money.

If you suspect someone is committing benefit or council tax fraud, call the fraud hotline on (01472) 326298, or alternatively visit http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/resident/report/. Callers do not have to leave their name and all information received will be treated in confidence.

The report can be read in full on the council’s website at
http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/committees/committees.aspx?commid=108&meetid=2316.