HYNDBURN Council has launched a crackdown on benefit cheats and is appealing to members of the public for their help.
The campaign’s message is clear – you wouldn’t let a thief steal desks from your child’s school, beds from your local hospital or books from your library, yet these are some of the true implications of the cost of benefit fraud.
The campaign includes a video which will be played on the council’s website and on the television at the main benefits and customer services inquiry hall at the Broadway office. It will also be shown at each of the area council meetings during February and March.
Posters have already been distributed and are on display in staff and public areas in all the council’s main buildings.
Councillor Marlene Haworth, Cabinet member for finance, said: “We have a tough attitude to benefit cheats and have no hesitation in taking people to court wherever necessary to protect the majority of honest council tax payers in the borough.
“However, I don’t think people realise that nationally benefit cheats are costing us £900M every year and that equates to £36 being stolen from every household in the country.”
Hyndburn’s investigations team is currently probing 60 separate allegations of benefit fraud.
If you suspect someone is committing benefit fraud contact the council’s hotline on 380240, which is available 24 hours a day, or report your suspicious via the website at www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk.
