Benefit fraud cheats caught in crackdown

A CRACKDOWN on benefit fraud in East Lothian has seen eight people referred by police to the Department of Work and Pensions.

Officers from the force’s East Lothian Community Action Team worked with benefits officials to carry out checks on building contractors, gardeners and window cleaners.

The checks were carried out by teams working in Gullane, Dunbar, North Berwick, Aberlady, Archerfield, Haddington, East Linton and Gifford, with officials promising to continue pursuing benefit cheats.

Sergeant Andy Doig said: “Benefit fraud is a considerable drain on the public purse, especially in today’s financial climate.

“This is an ongoing initiative and we will continue to carry out random checks throughout East Lothian to identify those fraudulently claiming benefits.”