A CRACKDOWN on benefit cheats is wielding success.
For the second year in a row the number of people who have had formal action taken against them by Calderdale Council for fraud has increased.
Since April last year 22 people have been successfully prosecuted and there are a further 20 cases yet to come before the courts.
In addition, a further 70 people have either accepted a formal caution or a financial penalty as an alternative to appearing in court.
Latest figures show that council investigators have carried out more than 700 investigations into allegations of benefit fraud.
The investigations identified a total of £800,000 of taxpayers' money wrongly claimed by people applying for housing and council tax benefits.
A Calderdale spokesman said: "In one case a woman had been claiming as a single parent.
"But she had been living with her husband, who was in full-time work.
"This fraud had taken place over a number of years and they had stolen over £44,000 in income support, housing and council tax benefits.
"When the case came to court both pleaded guilty and received prison sentences."
More than 1,000 allegations of benefit abuse were made to the council last year.
The council is urging people to report cheats on 01422 393566.
