Fraud investigators are cracking down on Bradford's benefit swindlers and saving taxpayers more than £20 million in the process.

Officers working for Bradford Benefits Agency fraud investigations team uncovered thousands of false claims during 1998.

And their efforts in tracking down the district's cheats resulted in more than 100 prosecutions and a further 30 cautions.

Total savings to taxpayers have increased by about £3 million, or 17 per cent, in comparison to the previous 12 months when the investigations team operated on a pilot basis.

Individual savings include the uncovering of £500,000 worth of instrument of payment fraud, where people misuse giros or order books.

And a further £400,000 of employer collusion fraud, where employees are paid low salaries and encouraged by employers to make benefit claims, was detected - an increase of £150,000 on 1997. A spokesman for Bradford Benefits Agency fraud investigations service said: "The team has built on its first year success by developing closer links with the local authority.

"The two parties have worked together to try to prevent benefit fraud occurring, as well as investigating it wherever and whenever it is suspected. As a result we are expecting to make savings to the taxpayer of over £20 million in the 12 months from January 1998."

The majority of fraud investigations start with anonymous tip-offs from members of the public. And regular checks are carried out with businesses in the area to ensure people are not working while claiming benefit.

The success of the Benefits Agency team over the last 12 months follows a pledge by Bradford Council's ruling Labour Group to continue the fight against people who falsely claim housing or council tax benefit.

The Council is aiming to bring in new measures to tackle the problem, including a special hotline number and investigators to check out the claims.

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