Police crack down on benefit cheats' fake attacks

Police have reported a spate of claims from Hastings residents who say their money has been stolen in order to get their hands on extra cash.

Over the past three months, police know of 12 reported robberies which they believe to be fictional.

In each case the person claimed they were robbed of their benefit money '” around 70 to 100 '” soon after receiving it.

They are then issued with a crime number which they use to pocket emergency cash.

DCI Martyn Underhill, Senlac's crime manager, said: "We had a recent case when a person said they'd been robbed yet couldn't remember how many people had robbed him or where the crime had happened."

To crack down on the false claims a new form has been introduced to dissuade would-be cheats making false accusations.

The form must be signed by the claimant, admitting their report of robbery is genuine and they are aware that a false claim is a criminal offence.

DCI Underhill added: "The CPS are keen to prosecute in such offences and we want the word to spread that false benefit or insurance claims will not be tolerated.

"We certainly don't want to dissuade people from making a genuine report of a crime and we always record an allegation, but in Hastings in particular we know robbery figures have been pushed up by false claims in the past."

The form has proved to be a useful deterrent over recent weeks, one individual recently withdrew their complaint from Bexhill police station after being asked to sign it.

The scheme is likely to be rolled out across the Force in the near future and other Forces in the country are looking at ways of stopping this fraud.

The declaration will also be used for people who report their mobile phone has been stolen when it has been lost '“ again a crime number in the past has helped people claim insurance for a new one.

[email protected]