Kingston Council, working in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, successfully prosecuted three residents for benefit fraud in August this year.

A Chessington resident was claiming as a single mother, despite her partner having moved back into their home several years previously. She received a custodial sentence, suspended for 2 years, for and 250 hours community work.

A Kingston resident claimed benefits despite working full-time. He was sentenced to 100 hours community service.

A Tolworth resident was claiming as a single parent when she was actually living in Edgeware with her partner and children, while her adult daughter and boyfriend shared the Tolworth council home. She was sentenced to a community order of unpaid work and was also made to give up the tenancy on her property.

Thanks to the hard work of Council officers and our partners, we can rest assured that money fraudulently claimed from the Council will be recovered and put back into delivering the essential services that we proudly provide. These cases highlight why it is so important that we are all vigilant against benefit fraud.  We will prosecute any resident of the Borough who claims benefits they are not entitled to, regardless of who they are.

says Cllr Trevor Heap, Chair of Audit Committee

If you would like to report a fraud in the Royal Borough of Kingston area, please telephone the Internal Audit and Investigation Service on 020 8547 5700 or email investigations@rbk.kingston.gov.uk