Bank account DWP benefit claimant 'fishing' update as government issues response

Bank account DWP benefit claimant 'fishing' update as government issues response View Image

Benefit claimants risk falling victim to Government “mass fishing” exercises, as ministers receive new powers to look at bank account details to tackle fraud, an MP has warned.

The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Accountability) Bill has cleared both Houses of Parliament, and is going through a tidying up process before it can become law. This is where ministers are speaking up as they fear innocent and vulnerable people could be investigated and effected by the powers in this bill if they aren’t properly kept in check.

They warned the new powers to prevent fraud could morph into a “mass fishing” exercise unless the Government widens the role of an independent person. This is the person wh