Fraud squad ready by April

Press, 10 February 1989, Page 4

Fraud squad ready by April

By

DEBRAH McPHERSON

A new Christchurch benefit fraud squad is expected to start its investigations by April. The Social Welfare Department’s director of benefits and pensions, Mr Cliff Money, said applications for the 11 member team had already been received from within the department. The team would be selected in about two weeks. Training for the benefit fraud team would include investigation techniques, interviewing, and court procedures. The team would not be "snooping under beds or sitting on street corners” watching people, said Mr Money. “Most of that sort of

evidence does not hold up as valid evidence -in a court of law anyhow. “If people are not honest with us, however, they risk getting caught, and if they do, then we will prosecute." Pilot benefit control units set up in 10 regions, including Nelson and Dunedin, had already proved successful, saving the department a total of S2O million in welfare payments. • A domestic purposes fraud team already working in Christchurch had also saved the department up to $1 million. That unit would be incorporated into the new benefit control team. The new team would not be concerned with collecting social security debts or liable parent contributions, said Mr Money.