Benefit fraudsters are being targeted by Richmond Council after it received extra government funding to crack down on housing fraud.

Richmond and Kingston’s joint investigations team have got an additional £200,000 to work with housing providers to crackdown on housing benefit fraud for two years.

The team has clawed back more taxpayers’ money than ever with an estimated £439,492 retrieved from benefit cheats in Richmond between March last year and March this year.

The council retrieved £387,780 in fraudulent benefit payments the previous year.

The fraud team has also been working to clamp down on social housing fraud and has saved £234,000 by recovering eight properties and 24 units of temporary accommodation.

Councillor Geoffrey Samuel, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, said the team’s success sent a clear message to potential benefit cheats.

He said: "We will find you, we will take decisive action, and you will not continue to take money away from the borough’s most vulnerable residents.

"We will not tolerate benefit fraud in any way, shape or form in this borough, and we will not rest until this crime has been stamped out.

"If you are thinking of committing fraud remember, if we can prosecute – we will."

If you suspect someone of committing fraud, call the council’s anti-fraud hotline anonymously on 0800 3899795.