Bridgend: poor progress on National Fraud Initiative

Bridgend reports that overall 3,613 cases have been processed, of which 1,074 are the subject of further investigation.

1,470 Housing Benefit matches have been processed with 76 cases identified for detailed investigation (with approximately 40 potential cases pending). Initial potential savings of £27,374 have been identified. Of this, only two cases related to fraud (£8,036) - the rest are the result of official error. This may change when all investigations have been completed.

In respect of Council Tax single person fraud, savings of a meagre £1,578 have been identified. A second run has been completed with "matches due early next year" (the report is dated January 2010). "Much investigative work has still to be completed and it will be some time before a final figure is available."

Either fraud at Bridgend is astonishingly low, or progress in detecting it is astonishingly slow.