Espionage ‘spy teams’ to target benef it cheats
BENEFIT cheats will be targeted by a specialist ‘spy team’ as part of a crackdown on welfare fraud.
Officers from the new Social Security Scotland benefits agency are being trained in surveillance techniques – including how to keep tabs on online activities – after losing millions to bogus claimants.
The agency was set up in 2018 to administer some benefits north of the Border but bosses were keen to take a different approach to the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which has been criticised for being unfair and heavy-handed with claimants.
However, after Social Security
Scotland lost £65 million to fraud last year, it has been forced to take action. The agency oversees ten devolved benefits and paid out £3.37 billion last year, with a budget of £3.72 billion this year.
Now bosses at the agency, which handles carers’ allowance, child payments and child winter heating assistance, have instructed a private security firm to coach employees in espionage techniques.
Antevorte, a corporate surveillance firm in Newbury, Berkshire, was formed in 2011 by former government emloyees. According to its website, the firm has experience ‘within the operational branch of a government department well known for its work against espionage, serious crime and terrorism’. It adds: ‘Skills learned working in UK government have been transferred to the commercial investigation sector.’
Undercover operatives will be taught how to use cameras and recording devices to collect evidence in person and online.
During any investigative process, the agency will collaborate with police and the Crown Office to ensure they have amassed enough evidence to prosecute. As part of its counter-fraud strategy, the agency said there would be training for ‘front-line staff’ geared towards recognising ‘potential fraud indicators’.
A spokesman for Social Security Scotland said: ‘When we began hiring staff for our counter-fraud service, we looked for people with appropriate skills and specialist training. We are looking to widen our capacity for work while maintaining specialist training in preparation for future benefit launches.
‘We are doing a case transfer with the DWP. As a result our capacity needs to expand and it [surveillance training] is in line with the Scottish Government’s zero tolerance approach to benefits fraud.’
The Crown Office remains responsible for deciding whether to prosecute after an investigation is completed and any evidence is handed over by the agency.
A brief description of the contract with Antevorte, posted on Public Contracts Scotland, states: ‘The Scottish Government require a service provider to deliver a bespoke training course for fraud investigators to ensure they are competent carrying out surveillance on Social Security Scotland benefit fraud cases.’