Police mount probe into 'huge scale' benefit fraud (From Gazette & Herald)

Police mount probe into 'huge scale' benefit fraud

POLICE and Government inspectors are investigating housing benefit fraud in Ryedale worth tens of thousands of pounds.

Officers swooped at a house in a village near Malton, after a painstaking month-long inquiry by Malton Police, Ryedale District Council's counter-fraud investigation team and officials from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Sergeant Mike Pannett, of Malton Police, said officers arrested a middle-aged local man, and a search of the property uncovered evidence of years of complex fraud on "a huge scale", understood to involve fraudulent claims for housing benefit and other DWP benefits.

Police had been working on the investigation with benefit fraud experts from York and Malton for a number of weeks. They decided to launch an early-morning raid last Friday but inquiries into the full extent of the alleged fraud are still continuing, and it could be at least eight weeks before the case comes to court.

Sgt Pannett said: "Investigators came to us for a private meeting three or four weeks ago, and since then we have been planning when best to move in and execute an arrest warrant.

"This should be a warning to people who are fraudulently claiming benefits - the police are always quite happy to get involved."

The DWP was called in after it became clear the alleged fraud went beyond housing benefits alone.

A DWP spokesman said the latest arrest proved those committing any kind of benefit fraud were "fighting a losing battle". He said: "On a case as complex as this, we are now able to share intelligence with other organisations and act with them in a way we couldn't before.

"It is a very important message that taxpayers can be reassured where benefit crime does occur we will pursue it."

Ryedale councillor Robert Wainwright added: "The council will not tolerate those who choose to abuse the benefits system.

"We will look to pursue these individuals and bring them to justice where possible."

The man was taken to York Police Station and later released on bail.

Anyone who wants to report benefit fraud in Ryedale can either phone free on 0800 174553 or email counterfraud@ryedale.gov.uk.

Updated: 14:40 Wednesday, April 05, 2006