BENEFIT cheats in Bromsgrove are being warned to be on their guard as the district council, working with the Department of Work and Pensions, continues its hard-hitting campaign to catch the culprits.

It is estimated that every year benefit cheats cost the country around £0.9 billion in stolen benefits - money that could be spent on improving services for people in real need.

Marie Wall, principal fraud officer for Bromsgrove District Council, said: "People who commit benefit fraud are doing it at the tax-payers expense and we will not tolerate it. We will do all we can to bring offenders to justice and ask our residents to report anyone they suspect of cheating the system.

"Benefit fraud is a criminal offence and, if we think someone is fraudulently claiming benefit, we will investigate that person's circumstances. In certain situations where we suspect third party collusion, we may also investigate the landlord and/or employer."

She added:"Bromsgrove District Council is committed to tackling benefit fraud. We know that most people who receive benefit are honest, but there are however, a minority who are not. We warn those people to be on their guard because we take benefit fraud very seriously and we will take legal action where necessary." The council tries to stop benefit fraud through a number of ways. It tries to prevent it happening by imposing strict controls when new claims are made for both housing and council tax benefit and carries out rigorous checks through visits and reviews after benefits have been issued.

It has strengthened its detection techniques for catching fraudsters and has a range of actions it can take, including prosecution, when appropriate. It also issues press releases to shame the offenders in public.

To report a suspected offender call 881221 or e-mail hotline@bromsgrove.gov.uk