Tens of thousands of pounds worth of public money has been recovered this year thanks to the work of Rochford District Council’s Revenues and Benefits team.

More than a dozen successful benefit fraud prosecutions have taken place thanks to the efforts of the Council’s Fraud Investigation Unit, and the Portfolio Holder for Council Tax Collection, Benefits and Strategic Housing, Councillor Mrs Tracy Capon has issued a stern warning to anyone who commits benefit fraud.

Councillor Mrs Capon said: “We are sending out a clear message that anyone who commits benefit fraud will be prosecuted without hesitation. Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime, everyone pays for it out of the public purse.”

As well as recovering the full amounts that have been defrauded, recent cases have also seen Community Punishment Orders being handed out meaning that offenders have to complete hours of unpaid work.

In one recent case, a Rochford resident not only has to pay back thousands of pounds worth of fraudulently claimed benefit, but must also complete 80 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months and pay £150 court costs.

Councillor Mrs Capon added: “Anyone who is committing benefit fraud should know that we will pursue the maximum punishment we can for the offence. In several cases this means that it is not just about paying the money back, but also the possibility of undertaking unpaid work with Community Punishment Orders and paying back court costs.”

Rochford District Council’s Fraud Investigations Unit also has a confidential telephone number that residents can ring if they want to confidentially report a fraud.

Councillor Mrs Capon said: “We want to encourage residents who may think someone is committing benefit fraud to tell our team in complete confidence, either by the telephone number 0800 0462097 or via the website www.rochford.gov.uk/reportafraud

I have to stress that the contact is completely confidential, with residents help we’ll be able to stop benefit fraud in the District.”