Guidance issued by DWP to Local Authorities relating to the issuing of Cautions for Benefit Fraud.

The request was successful.

Paul Richardson

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Could you please provide me with copies of any documents,issued by the DWP (or it's predecessors) either printed, written or in e-mail form which contain Guidance for Local Authorities in general and/or Bolton Council in particular which they should follow when issuing Formal (now Simple) Cautions for Benefit Fraud.

Can you confirm that beyond such Guidance from the DWP (should it exist), the issuing of Cautions for benefit fraud should conform with the Guidance currently contained in Home Office Circular 016/2008 and that the Councils Enforcement Policy on benefit fraud should reflect this.

Could you please tell me when the Guidance (should it exist)
was last updated.

Could you please provide me (should it exist) with a copy of a pro forma Caution sheet design which the DWP suggests that Local Authorities should adopt.

Yours faithfully,

Paul Richardson

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

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DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

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Paul Richardson

Dear DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request,

Thank you for the information you have supplied.

I have two points to make.

The guidance document says you are following Home Office Circular 30/2005

Your letter to me says you are following Home Office Circular 016/2008 ( which superceded 30/2005 on 10th July 2008)

The proforma Caution Certificate you have provided doesn't comply with 016/2008 inasmuch that is does not include in writing the implications of the Caution for the offender. (and a couple of other bits of information)

Could you clarify these points.

Does this mean that a Benefit Enforcement team in an LA, who state they are following DWP Guidance, could have been using an out of date proforma since July 2008?

Would this have any implications for the legitimacy of any such Cautions.

Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Richardson

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been received at the DWP Central FoI Team.

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Department who will respond to you direct.

Should you also have any further queries in connection with this request
do please contact us.

For further information on the Freedom of Information Act within DWP
please click on the link below.

[1]http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

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1. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/freedom-of-informa...

DWP Adelphi Freedom-of-Information-Request, Department for Work and Pensions

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