BENEFIT fraudsters cost Calderdale Council £775,000 in the past year.

The council conducted 600 investigations after collecting 1,200 allegations.

It discovered a total of £775,000 claimed illegally.

Within the last 12 months 24 people were prosecuted for benefit fraud within the borough and more than 100 people were cautioned or fined.

A further 30 cases are waiting to come to court.

But Calderdale said it would clamp down using all methods available such as obtaining information from employers, banks, credit reference agencies and utility companies.

Councils may also use surveillance under the controversial Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

The controversial act was initially set up to monitor suspected terrorist activity. It is just one element of legislation controlling surveillance and personal data gathering.

The council is encouraging the public to report suspected benefit cheats by ringing the free confidential 0800 169 7451 hotline.

Clr Bryan Smith, scrutiny chair for corporate services, said: “The vast majority of people who claim benefits are genuine and we want to make sure people get the benefits they are entitled to receive.

“However there are those who deliberately set out to take advantage of the system and claim money they are not entitled to.”