This is when a person knowingly completes a claim form or statement in order to falsely obtain benefit that is not due to them. Fraud can also occur when a person knowingly fails to notify a relevant change in their circumstances in order to continue to receive benefit that is not due to them.

The investigation team is made up of three officers who both prevent and detect fraud. They investigate allegations with integrity and in confidence.

Government guidelines advise that we must visit you once during the lifetime of your claim, the visit will be carried out by a member of the council's benefit enquiry team.

Members of the public, officers and members of the council, other Government departments and national and local data matching services can make fraud referrals.

If you consider a person to be fraudulently claiming benefit within the Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council area please help us by:

• Calling our Fraud Hotline number 01455 255683. This is a 24-hour service. There will be an officer available to take your call from 08:30 until 17:00. Alternatively you can leave a message on the above telephone number.
• Write a letter to our offices at Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council. Investigations team, Argents Mead, Hinckley , Leicestershire. LE10 1BZ.
• Complete our online Benefit Fraud Referral form.

All allegations will be investigated accordingly. Under the Data Protection Act we will be unable to provide you with any details on how the claim is progressing. All information is treated with the strictest confidence.

• Three formal cautions - kept on Police National computer records.
• Two administrative penalties (30% of the overpayment is added to the outstanding debt). Further sanctions/prosecutions are in the pipeline.