http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-4620
From August 19th 2005:
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Locksmith sentenced on £2,750 benefit fraud charges
A self-employed locksmith, who fraudulently claimed more than £2,750 in job seeker’s allowance and housing benefit while working, was given a 40-hours community punishment order and told to pay £100 prosecution costs at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday 18 August).
Darron Williams, 33, formerly of Oxney Road, Peterborough, but now living in Willingham, Cambridgeshire, pleaded guilty. The court was told that he has started to repay the £1,366 in job seeker’s allowance and £1,392 in housing benefit that had been over-paid.
The prosecution was brought jointly by the Department for Work and Pensions and Peterborough City Council using information provided by a government database that identifies anomalies between benefit claims and employment records.
“To date this financial year, we have secured four formal cautions, four financial penalties and two prosecutions through this procedure,” said Diane Baker, benefits fraud manager with Peterborough City Council.
“We will continue to work across departmental boundaries to minimise the opportunity for fraud and to ensure that those who abuse the system are brought to justice. Tackling fraud is a priority for the council.”
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A “self-employed” locksmith who steals from the benefits agency? I know I wouldn’t want him round my house, drilling my locks. Yes, times are hard as a UK locksmith, but fraud? Perhaps worst of all, there is nothing, no law or regulation, that stops this criminal from trading as a locksmith! He wouldn’t be allowed to watch the sweeties in your local supermarket as a security guard now, but he can freely break into homes for money?!? The Institute of Certified Locksmiths (of which I am a full member) carries out background checks, and lobbies for regulation of locksmiths across the UK.
Write to your MP!