Written question asked by Mark Durkan (Social Democratic & Labour Party) on Tuesday, 23 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 29 March 2010. It was answered by Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 on behalf of the Home Office.

Serious and Organised Crime Agency: Benefit Fraud

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of investigations by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency concerned benefit fraud in the last 12 months;

Answer: [holding answer 29 March 2010]: The Serious Organised Crime Agency was set up to tackle serious organised crime and to reduce the harm it causes to the UK. SOCA's priorities are determined by the Home Secretary and set out in the SOCA Annual Plan. They include class A drugs, organised immigration crime and fraud as well as cross-cutting priorities such as firearms and criminal finances and profits.SOCA's operational activity is aligned to the UK Control Strategy for Organised Crime. While SOCA has not led operational activity which primarily focuses on benefit fraud, in the last 12 months, instances of benefit fraud may be uncovered as part of a wider investigation.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 508 c938-9W; 324763
Session: 2009-10
Subjects: Fraud Social security Social security benefits Serious Organised Crime Agency
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk