DPP Latest News: Benefit fraud investigators crack down and new ruling on British detainees

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 30th, 2011 at 6:27 pm

The government is employing the services of an increasing number of benefit fraud investigators in a bid to crack down on those making false claims.

In response to tip-offs made on the National Benefit Fraud hotline, benefit fraud investigators will often take part in covert surveillance operations to gain evidence on the alleged offender.

Earlier this year, David Cameron said: ?Simply shrugging our shoulders at benefit fraud is a luxury we can no longer afford.?

In further benefit fraud news, A navy officer has been found guilty of dishonestly claiming allowances to send his two children to boarding school. Benefit fraud solicitors successfully prosecuted Anthony Gray on nine separate fraud charges, although he was found not guilty of a further nine.

The officer?s fraudulent claims totalled more than £50,000, which he received to send his two children to Kingswood School in Bath. As he had separated from his wife and was no longer the primary carer of his children, he was not entitled to make the claims.

In other news, secret evidence used to conceal allegations that British detainees were tortured will no longer be allowed for submission in court, following a Supreme Court ruling that has outlawed the procedure.

The ruling will aid criminal defence solicitors, who have previously had been unable to prevent organisations such as the Secret Service from suppressing accusations that British suspects had been ill treated.

The decision is being hailed as a success for open justice by criminal