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Lambeth's lie detector catches 400 benefit fraudsters

8:30am Sunday 20th April 2008

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Nearly 400 Lambeth residents have been caught fiddling their benefits by new voice recognition technology.

The pilot project saved £450,000 in benefit fraud.

Lambeth Council phoned 2,000 residents and used Voice Risk Analysis, which picks up minute changes in the voice that show a person is lying.

Benefits staff then made further checks to see if claims need investigation.

638 took part, and of these 377 were caught lying and had their benefits stopped or decreased.

A further 261 discovered they were not getting their full entitlement and had their benefits boosted.

The project, run in partnership with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and Capita, has proved so successful that there are now plans to extend it.

Divisional Director for Revenues and Benefits David Ashmore said: "Lambeth has a clear and tough policy of zero-tolerance of fraud. We have a strong and multi-facetted counter fraud strategy.

"This cutting edge technology is another weapon in our armoury."


Your Say YourThurrock Gazette

Dennis, Portland OR US says...
9:56am Sun 20 Apr 08

Will an industrial strength model be made available to examine politicians' speechs? Please ship a few units to this side of the pond. We are in dire need of the truth ahead of the November elections.

Disgusting!!, says...
8:56pm Sun 20 Apr 08

Surely this is a clear infringement of human rights , to dupe these poor claimants in this way.

dave, london says...
9:11am Mon 21 Apr 08

I agree with Dennis, stick one in the Houe of Commons and watch the little red light stay on constantly!

Burr, says...
11:22am Mon 21 Apr 08

Nearly 400 Lambeth residents have been caught fiddling their benefits by new voice recognition technology.

Any chance the council can use it on themselves ?, mite want to start with the person in charge of the benefits dept.

K Mac, London says...
2:43pm Mon 21 Apr 08

In agreement with Burr. My partner is paying the penalty for a parking offence based purely on the lies of a Lambeth parking attendant. It's too expensive to risk taking it to appeal. Sad that the word of an employee is sacrosanct over that of a resident.

Mr A Hamilton, Brixton says...
12:02pm Tue 22 Apr 08

A Hamilton - London
I have an advisor at my local job centre. Can Lambeth inconjuction with capita check all advisors to see if they elp the unemployed getting back to work.

dave, bromley says...
5:30pm Fri 25 Apr 08

the sooner this is brought in countrywide the better,
the honest have nothing to fear.

pcn termninator, brixton says...
4:24pm Tue 22 Jul 08

So the Labour donor's Capita are still being favoured for contracts?
It fools no sensibel person that Capita get all these contracts does anyone seriously think that capita personally has expertise in electronics, criminal records, land registry or fraud prevention?
I worked in Bexley for Capita and was tipped off by nigerian residents living in lambeth that tenancies of Bexley council freehold properties were being sold for £5000 in shops just outside Lagos under teh banner of 'Thamesmead housing'. i drew this to the attention of Capita fruad department and they unconvincingly stated 'yes we know about that it's all being dealt with - i was amazed they know did they as a white londoner from kent take a trip out to nigeria for their holidays and sopt the ship like my neighbour? i think not if most people in bexley are anything to go by on their variety of holiday destinations.
months later i was absdgered by this neighbour telling me they are still doing this fraud and it included all id necessary to get into the UK to claim these tenancies in Bexley all in for £5000.
I approached the fraud boss in bexley again and asked it the matter was totally resolved and put to bed and was told it was none of my business but it had all been dealt with and had been stopped.
Capita's arragnace just set me off so i reported it directly to the police and explained that capita had been informed by me what had been going on all along.
I was immediately tolf that my contact was not renewed days after contacting the police, remarkably when you consider that i was their most productive member of staff in my department - fraud prevention based at Erith Town Hall!!!
that's not the end of capita though they are in charge of tfl - oh yes i have a CCJ against TFL because of Capita as well, thye owe me £385 that they have refused to refund and i have now ordered bailiffs to attend tfl's office under warrant W06791/08
kicking and screming they all pay in the end even capita!

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