30/04/2009

Countries Join To Fight Benefit Fraud

The Department for Work and Pensions will today sign an historic arrangement with five other countries to enhance cooperation on tackling benefit fraud.

This type of fraud costs the UK taxpayer £800 million a year.

Recognising the benefits of mutual co-operation, the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand have come together to sign the 'Windsor Arrangement' which aims to achieve stronger prevention, earlier detection and effective deterrence of benefit fraud.

DWP Permanent Secretary Leigh Lewis said today: "The six countries that have signed this agreement today are all committed to fighting benefit fraud. This arrangement will ensure each country works together more systematically and, in turn, increase our individual and collective protection against those who seek to defraud our benefit systems.

"This historic agreement is just another sign of the cooperation enjoyed between our countries."

The six signatories have agreed to work together to share intelligence and risk profiling, to share strategies and best practice for combating fraud, to determine scope for carrying out investigations and enforcement for each other and to enhance understanding of the nature and extent of identity fraud.

(JM/BMcC)

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