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Welfare-to-work employees face fraud charges

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  • Welfare-to-work employees face fraud charges

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...s-8842540.html


    Dozens of counts allege bonuses secured by falsely claiming jobs found for unemployed

    THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2013
    PAUL PEACHEY



    Nine workers at the welfare-to-work firm A4e have been charged with fraud for allegedly faking documents that falsely claimed they had found unemployed people jobs.


    The six women and three men from the company – which was paid £200m a year by the Government for training job-seekers and finding them work – face dozens of counts of fraud for allegedly securing bonuses on the basis of fake documents.


    The police inquiry is continuing but prosecutors have not been asked to consider charges against the former head of A4e, the entrepreneur Emma Harrison, who last year quit her role as the Government’s “family champion” as allegations unfolded.


    The nine, who will appear in court next month, include seven recruiters and a contract manager and face a total of 60 charges including fraud and forgery, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.


    They are alleged to have claimed reward payments for putting people into work although some had not been found jobs or even been registered on the company’s books.


    The charges were announced as it emerged that A4e had been punished for poor performance with a cut in the amount of work it receives from Whitehall. Ministers have previously claimed that the company’s contracts would be finished if there was evidence of “systemic failure”.


    A4e is one of the biggest operators of the Government’s welfare-to-work scheme which rewards companies if they are able to find lasting jobs for clients. The company made a pre-tax profit of £15.1m in 2011, but slumped to a £2.1m loss last year amid the controversy. The providers secure most of their money when someone has stayed in work for six months but police were investigating allegations that bonus payments were secured even when workers were in jobs for just a day.


    Sue Patten, CPS head of fraud, said: “The CPS has authorised charges against six women and three men in connection with alleged fraudulent activity at Action 4 Employment (A4e), a social purpose company contracted by the Department of Work and Pensions. It is alleged that between February 2009 and February 2013 nine A4e employees including one contract manager, seven recruiters and an administrator, employed across three A4e offices in the South East of England, committed numerous offences of fraud.”


    A4E stressed that it had improved its practices since the alleged offences took place. “The investigation by Thames Valley police relates to alleged incidents which date back to 2009 and were uncovered by A4e’s own internal controls,” it said in a statement. “We referred the matter to the Department for Work and Pensions, which then referred the allegations to the police.”


    The accused are due to appear before magistrates in Slough on October 14.







    CAVEAT LECTOR

    This is only my opinion - "Opinions are made to be changed --or how is truth to be got at?" (Byron)

    You and I do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.
    Cohen, Herb


    There is danger when a man throws his tongue into high gear before he
    gets his brain a-going.
    Phelps, C. C.


    "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance!"
    The last words of John Sedgwick
    Tags: None

  • #2
    Re: Welfare-to-work employees face fraud charges

    Originally posted by charitynjw
    The police inquiry is continuing but prosecutors have not been asked to consider charges against the former head of A4e, the entrepreneur Emma Harrison, who last year quit her role as the Government’s “family champion” as allegations unfolded.
    Yet again, the woodentops are thrown to the wolves, whilst the fat cat is allowed to quietly slip away.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Welfare-to-work employees face fraud charges

      The investigations in the cases of A4e, SERCO and G4S are showing, beyond any shadow of doubt, that the private-sector should not be allowed to deliver public services. There must now be a root and branch reform of public services by removing the private sector and returning it to directly-employed workforces. There will be howls from predictable enough quarters, but the private sector has to be made to understand that public services are not a cash cow and the public will not tolerate their hard-earned cash being used to line some fat cat's pockets. It is time for the public to hold elected representatives to account and remind them - and keep reminding them - they are there to do the electorate's bidding, not vested interests who milk the public pursue.
      Life is a journey on which we all travel, sometimes together, but never alone.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Welfare-to-work employees face fraud charges

        I've had a quick read up; with reference to the Supply of Goods & Services Act 1982, the service should be carried out
        • [*=left]with reasonable care and skill
          [*=left]in a reasonable time (if there is no specific time agreed)
          [*=left]for a reasonable charge (if no fixed price was set in advance)


        Cameron & Co Ltd have failed miserably; they deserve to appear on Rogue Traders.
        Can I get my money back?


        CAVEAT LECTOR

        This is only my opinion - "Opinions are made to be changed --or how is truth to be got at?" (Byron)

        You and I do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.
        Cohen, Herb


        There is danger when a man throws his tongue into high gear before he
        gets his brain a-going.
        Phelps, C. C.


        "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance!"
        The last words of John Sedgwick

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Welfare-to-work employees face fraud charges

          Tips and icebergs spring to mind, though I wonder if the rest of the iceberg will ever be investigated. Scapegoats are fine, but that's all they are - a token gesture to try to appease the electorate.

          There should be a huge public exposure over this, and all other privatised services. The sad fact is that whichever government is in power, this massive waste of public funds will continue.

          In this case, where is the QC in the entire issue? How were bonuses paid without the proof being checked? Why are the people who signed off the fraudulent cases being prosecuted?

          You could go on for ever couldn't you!

          Comment

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