SIX North East Lincolnshire Council staff were sacked and another resigned prior to a disciplinary hearing NELC has revealed in its annual fraud report - which focuses on those attempting to steal public money from both inside and outside the
Covering the period from April 2013 to March 2014, the report revealed enforcement action has included investigations and subsequent disciplinary hearings where staff fraud or financial misconduct was suspected.
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.
NELC also successfully prosecuted 23 benefit cheats, while a further 14 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.
Councillor Chris Shaw, leader of the council, said: "The risk of fraud can be substantial to a large and complex organisation such as a local council, so we have to be thorough in our anti-fraud measures.
"Although there are some people who do try to get something to which they are not entitled, this report shows that they are in the minority and that when they are discovered, they are brought to justice. Crime doesn't pay, and this annual fraud report clearly demonstrates that."
If you suspect someone is committing benefit or council tax fraud, call the fraud hotline on (01472) 326298, or alternativelyvisit http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/resident/report/ . Callers do not have to leave their name and all information received will be treated in confidence.
For more details, see tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph.