A joint statement from Councillor Paul Moore and Councillor Liam Preece on Sandwell Council's Annual Counter Fraud Report for 2025:
We are proud to sign off Sandwell Council’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee’s Annual Counter Fraud Report for 2025.
- The report highlights how the council actively pursued 194 cases of those who misuse the public’s money.
- Amongst the work of the team there have been 20 prosecutions, 26 housing applications cancelled and 33 council homes recovered.
- We have seen people illegally using the Blue Badge parking scheme which is in place to support the vulnerable.
- The report highlights the prosecution of people who profiteer from social housing by subletting their properties which hinders genuine applicants on the waiting list seeking a home.
The council’s Anti-Fraud Strategy outlines the importance of pursuing offenders and having the capability to prosecute those who commit fraud against public money. It is a strategy that sends a clear message to potential perpetrators that fraud will not be tolerated.
It also assists with the recovery of losses through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. A number of investigations conducted by the Counter Fraud Unit have concluded during the financial year resulting in positive convictions against fraud.
The council has tackled over £220,000 in fraud in the financial year of 2024/2025 with an estimated further prevention of £3.15million based on Cabinet Office calculations.
Fraud impacts on the most vulnerable members of our community, and it is theft. If you are claiming discounts or grants to which you are not entitled, you are taking funds away from the community and frontline services. If you are misusing the housing system you are potentially denying a home to the vulnerable people most in need.
If you know, or suspect, someone of fraud please let us know and swift action will be taken.
We will continue to remain vigilant in protecting and guarding the public’s money against fraud.
Councillor Paul Moore, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance
Councillor Liam Preece, Chair, Audit Committee
News release
Sandwell Council has issued a report which shows it has tackled over £220,000 in fraud in the financial year of 2024/2025 with an estimated further prevention of £3.15million based on Cabinet Office calculations.
In its annual Counter Fraud Unit report submitted to Sandwell Council’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee it was revealed that fraud had been identified and was either prevented or in the process of being recovered. This included in areas such as blue badge fraud, Council Tax reductions, direct payments, housing benefit and fraudulent Right to Buy discounts on council properties.
In a joint statement Councillors Paul Moore, Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader and Liam Preece, the Chair of the council’s Audit Committee, said: “Fraud impacts on the most vulnerable members of our community, and it is theft.
"If you are claiming discounts or grants to which you are not entitled, you are taking funds away from the community and frontline services. If you are misusing the housing system you are potentially denying a home to the vulnerable people most in need.
"If you know, or suspect, someone of fraud please let us know and swift action will be taken.
"Anyone wishing to report any suspected fraud within Sandwell can do so by emailing fraud_investigation@sandwell.gov.uk or by calling 0121 569 2650."
Importantly the council also works with the Cabinet Office in order to help prevent further fraud. Based on Cabinet Office calculations there was additional fraud prevention activities of £3.15m attributed through cancelling 26 fraudulent housing applications and recovering 33 properties. The Cabinet Office estimate that each fraudulent housing application costs the taxpayer £3,240 and each social housing property recovered saves £93,000.
The council is clear that it operates a zero tolerance on fraud, corruption and bribery, and that all instances will be investigated and the perpetrators will be dealt with, alongside action being taken to recover all money stolen from the council.
In 2023 the Home Office’s Fraud Strategy: Stopping Scams and Protecting the Public outlined that fraud now accounts for over 40% of crime but receives less than 1% of police resource. This highlights the significant responsibility that councils and other public bodies have to protect public funds.