Cornwall Council press release misleads over scale of benefits fraud

In the Western Morning News of Friday 17 May, there was an article about benefit cheats and the fact that Cornwall Council has successfully prosecuted these people in the local courts. Figures quoted in the article refer to a national total of money lost to fraud each year as £73 billion. The whole of the article was about benefit fraud and it is likely that readers would conclude that this is the amount of benefit fraud occurring nationwide each year. However, this is far from being the case. The £73 billion is a government estimate of all fraud including items such as tax fraud, procurement fraud, banking fraud, frauds in private businesses, mass marketing scams, identity fraud etc. The amount estimated as lost through fraud on benefits, tax credits and council tax is £1.7 billion, i.e. about 2% of all fraud.

At a time when all benefits claimants seem to be stigmatised by some sections of the press and political parties, it is unfortunate that Cornwall Council's slipshod use of statistics should be fanning the flames of controversy.

I have written to the Chief Executive of Cornwall Council asking for a statement of apology and correction to be issued.

The WMN article can be viewed at "Benefits fraudsters". The government statistics on fraud can be found at Annual Fraud Indicator. A DWP press release specifically on benefits fraud can be seen at DWP release.

May 2013