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Dozens lose jobs in council fraud inquiry
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard22 Apr 2009
A FRAUD investigation by a local council has discovered dozens of employees trying to cheat it of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
At least 28 people have been investigated and 25 members of staff have resigned or been dismissed as a result of the investigation at Barking and Dagenham council in Essex.
The inquiry discovered workers were trying to defraud the local authority of at least £235,000. Among the allegations are money laundering, passport forgery, benefit fraud and deception.
Police are investigating after a worker submitted false papers to support a claim for early retirement which could have cost the council £200,000. The culprit resigned immediately but a colleague is facing a disciplinary hearing after being accused of helping in the fraud.
Another worker resigned after being found guilty of a £30,000 benefit fraud.
Among the more serious claims, an employee resigned while under a disciplinary investigation after being arrested on charges of money laundering.
The council discovered one employee in possession of a number of forged passports after their partner was convicted of identity fraud. They left while being investigated. The council is now trying to recover the lost cash.
Reader views (19)
I was forced out of my job because I am white. All the established managers in revenues were similarly treated so. This then gave way for less experienced people to come in who are malleable and would not ask the relevant questions.
- Neil Hutchinson, Chadwell heath, 12/05/2009 10:42
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I am the Director responsible for audit at the council - it shows that we have good robust systems in place to catch this stuff - all the cases were caught before any money was paid out - we employ over 8000 staff - I am sad to say it is a fact of life that a very small number of people will try and cheat us - the challenge is to stop it. We decided to make the cases public in an open report - to show both staff and the public that we take a zero tolerance approach. It’s a shame we are getting a hard time for being open and honest in this way.
- Bill Murphy, Barking, 24/04/2009 09:10
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Tip of the iceburg I suspect, and I hope the Police will bring them to book.
- Jeremy E, London, 23/04/2009 18:35
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Benefit fraud, including claiming benefits with multiple identities and claiming for kids that don't exist, is rife in this country and our gutless politicans will do nothing to stop it.
- Ab, london, 23/04/2009 17:04
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To Napoleon Blownaparte, the council is predominately Liebore, like 73%, so how can you blame it on the BNP with only 24%? The article doesn't give enough information, so unless you know more, I would suggest you take a course in logic before posting such nonsense. And no, I am not a BNP supporter, I'm just wondering how your twisted logic can blame them rather than the majority.
- Ralph, GB, 23/04/2009 16:12
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Many of them are probably fleecing another Council by now.
No checks being done, no Police investigation, what a farce.
- Roger, Surrey, 23/04/2009 15:54
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Why aren't they nicked?
- Paul, Bromley, 23/04/2009 14:08
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I don't think that council is on its own. Take a look at Harrow!
- Mike, London, 23/04/2009 13:35
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And to think the government wants to introduce ID cards so that any petty bureaucraft can access all your personal information. These people would have a field day in stealing your identity and what recourse would the ordinary citizen have - next to none! The state has become too big and unaccountable. Unfortunately under New Labour it is the innocent who now have everything to fear.
- Trevor Foreman, London, England, 23/04/2009 13:18
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Would you expect anything less from a council that has that many BNP councillors?
- Napoleon Blownaparte, London, 23/04/2009 13:14
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So council workers are up to the same tricks as city bankers,eh? That's equality in action,no? Only their fraud is probably about 1% of that committed by hedge-fund managers & short sellers in the past few years...
Not to condone it though.
- Cynicals, Essex, 23/04/2009 09:31
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If these cruds are 'guilty enough' to be prosecuted or sacked [without challenge], as a consequence of these serious criminal frauds, then, before they disappear into London's increasingly lawless swarming masses, all their names [and photo IDs] should be posted on 'job recruiting' web sites so that prospective employers know who or what they're employing!
How many of these 'criminals', I wonder, have 'gone quickly and quietly' because they're either here illegally, or possible suspects for other crimes?
Lets have more realistic and effective policing numbers in and around our capital, please Boris, to stop this anarchic Labour rot.
- Dave, Cumbria, 23/04/2009 08:41
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Aren't most local politicians (of all shades, to be honest) committing fraud when they campaign for election? How many actually DO what they promise - how many even go though the motions of doing it?!
I won't belabour the obvious and lump national politicians in with their lesser brethren. Lies told on a grand scale are 'policy realignments' rather than lies, after all.
...and still we vote for them....
- Rogan, Irving, 23/04/2009 06:41
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I should imagine this type of crime is RIFE in local authorities because they know how the systems work and they know what does and doesn't get checked. In fact, I went to see my local MP on this very subject and she refused to believe me.
- Real, London, 22/04/2009 18:14
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I bet any one It's a labour controlled council.
- Ebin Donk, angus scotland, 22/04/2009 17:14
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Why is anyone at all surprised at the local council being caught with its pants down?
They are only copying MP's - who know a thing or four about how to play the system to grab every last penny they can get their grimy paws on.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster, 22/04/2009 16:33
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What is the difference between this council and the government. If the local council can be investigated then why cant the big boys ! Same or similar offences are they not.
- Rosie, watford, 22/04/2009 16:08
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It would be nice to know who is in control of this council, but I bet I can guess?
- Brandon Thomas, SW7, London UK, 22/04/2009 14:28
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EDITED BY admin@3.38pm on April 22 2009
Religious/Racial
- Scotty, Cambridge UK, 22/04/2009 13:45
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