116 convicted of dole fraud: a sharp increase

OVER 116 people in Londonderry were convicted of benefit fraud over the past three years with a sharp increase in convictions - from 27 to 40 - between 2009/10 and 2010/11.

The Benefits Minister Nelson McCausland revealed that of 49 convictions in 2011/12, 23 included a conviction for a Housing Benefit overpayment.

Mr McCausland explained: “The Social Security Agency (SSA) cannot provide separate information in relation to individuals convicted solely of housing benefit fraud.

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“However, it does hold details of the overall number of individuals convicted of benefit fraud by constituency in each of the last three years.”

In Londonderry there were 27 convictions in 2009/10; 40 in 2010/11; and 49 in 2011/12.