Housing fraud prosecution

Waiting for an internal review by Tower Hamlets Borough Council of their handling of this request.

Dear Tower Hamlets Borough Council,

1. How many cases were investigated for possible housing tenancy fraud excluding cases of potential sub-letting since the fraud act 2006 was introduced by this council?

2. How many of these cases were subsequently progressed further to prosecution proceedings under section 3 of the fraud act 2006 by this council?

3. How many cases under section 3 of the fraud act 2006 were successfully prosecuted by this council, and how many cases failed?

Yours faithfully,

Mr. F. Miah

London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Tower Hamlets Borough Council

Information request
Our reference: 5690765

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Dear Mr Miah
 
Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Thank you for your request for information that was received on 15 August
2016  requesting:

1. How many cases were investigated for possible housing tenancy fraud
excluding cases of potential sub-letting since the fraud act 2006 was
introduced by this council?

2. How many of these cases were subsequently progressed further to
prosecution proceedings under section 3 of the fraud act 2006 by this
council?

3. How many cases under section 3 of the fraud act 2006 were successfully
prosecuted by this council, and how many cases failed?
 
We are dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000  and we aim to send a response by 13 September 2016.
 
In some case, a fee may be payable. If we decide a fee is payable, we will
send you a fee notice and we will require you to pay the fee before
proceeding with your request.
 
The Freedom of Information Act 2000  may restrict the release of some or
all of the information you have requested. We will carry out an assessment
and if any exemptions  apply to some or all of the information then we
might not provide that information to you. We will inform you if this is
the case and advise you of your rights to request an internal review and
to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.
 
We will also advise you if we cannot provide you with the information
requested for any other reason together with the reason(s) why and details
of how you may appeal (if appropriate).
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Jane Jones
Admin Officer
Legal Services
020 7364 4736
[email address]
 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Tower Hamlets Borough Council

1 Attachment

Information request
Our reference: 5690765

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Dear Mr Miah
 
Your request for information has been considered under the requirements of
the Freedom of Information Act 2000. 
 
Please find attached our response to your request.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the
right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be
submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your
original letter and should be addressed to:
 
Complaints and Information
Town Hall
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
E14 2BG
icw[Tower Hamlets Borough Council request email] 

If you are still dissatisfied with the Council’s response after the
internal review you have a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner
at:
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Telephone: 01625 545 700
Website: www.ico.gov.uk

 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Jane Jones
Admin Officer
Legal Services
020 7364 4736
[email address]
 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

Dear London Borough of Tower Hamlets,

Re: FOI 5690765 Housing Fraud Prosecution

Thank you very much for your response to the above FOI request.

However you have not answered questions 2 and 3 of my information request. You have merely indicated recoveries via court action, you have not stated if or how many of these were pursued or recovered via court proceedings under section 3 of the fraud act 2006 as per my questions. My questions were in relation to section 3 of the fraud act 2006 as which I repeat below follows;

2. How many of these cases were subsequently progressed further to prosecution proceedings under section 3 of the fraud act 2006 by this council?

3. 3. How many cases under section 3 of the fraud act 2006 were successfully prosecuted by this council, and how many cases failed?

Furthermore, I am confused and baffled by your statement as follows;

“THH does not record the number of pending investigations, we only record successful recoveries. LBTH Tenancy Fraud Team records all cases and should have further details. Furthermore, once properties are recovered THH does not pursue further prosecution; LBTH Tenancy Fraud Team would pursue this route where possible.”

My FOI request was to LBTH council. Therefore I expect a response regardless of which LBTH internal department the relevant information exists within. The above statement seems to imply that LBTH Tenancy Fraud Team should have further details? If so, why was this information not provided to me? Am I supposed to make a separate FOI request to the LBTH Tenancy Fraud Team directly? Are they an independent 3rd party entity, or not a department of LBTH council?

Yours sincerely,

Mr. F. Miah