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£1.5million to be recovered from cheats across Oxfordshire

Released on 28 Jul 2008

Almost £1.5million will be recovered from benefit cheats in Oxfordshire thanks to the fraud teams from the five district councils.

In the financial year 2007/08, Cherwell, Oxford City, South Oxfordshire, The Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire District Councils successfully prosecuted 58 benefit cheats with 64 more people being fined and further 233 cautioned. 

Those who have been caught will have to pay all the illegally claimed money back in full together with any court costs incurred. Anyone who has been prosecuted for benefit fraud will now have a criminal record. In addition many have been named and shamed in the local media.

The figures for the financial year 2007/08 illustrate the good work done by the Councils in tackling benefit fraud as well as helping to highlight what is a major national problem.

In May 2008 a National Fraud Initiative study carried out by the Audit Commission revealed that some £140million of fraud or overpayments had been detected in the UK in 2006/07.

Bob Price, Leader of Oxford City Council said: "We place great importance on ensuring that people receive the benefits that they are entitled to, and in rooting out the cheats and frauds among landlords and tenants who knowingly take public money under false pretences. We are very pleased with the results of our fraud investigations over the past year."

Anyone who thinks they know a benefit cheat should contact the Fraud Hotline on 0800 328 6340.  All information is treated in the strictest of confidence. 

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