A FRAUD investigation unit has uncovered losses to the taxpayer of nearly £1million in the past year alone.

The 11-strong team, based at Bradford Council, investigates those who falsely claim social care cash or council grants, fraudulently apply for reduced council tax or business rate payments, use disabled Blue Badge permits dishonestly, or commit social housing tenancy fraud.

It also investigates internal fraud or theft committed by its own staff.

In 2015/16, the team received 746 allegations of fraud against the council and accepted 574 of these for investigation.

Nine out of ten were cases involving Blue Badges, council tax or business rates.

The team found fraud, theft or irregularities in 384 cases, worth a total of £957,000, which led to 43 prosecutions, 10 dismissals of council staff and 187 cautions, written warnings and fines.

Most warning letters – 121 in total – were for the misuse of Blue Badges.

The report, by the council’s finance director Stuart McKinnon-Evans, says the unit has continued to “disrupt criminality, protect communities and build public trust and confidence, sending a strong message to both criminals and the community that crime will not pay”.

But his report also warns that there are big challenges facing the team, after the responsibility for investigating housing benefit fraud recently moved from local authorities to the Government.

As a result, he says, Bradford’s team has lost six staff members and will soon lose much of its Government funding.

The unit hopes to plug this gap by clawing back the ill-gotten gains of criminals and sharing investigative resources with Wakefield Council.

In 2015/16, two confiscation hearings in the courts saw a total of £18,000 taken from criminals and given back to Bradford Council.

A further three confiscation hearings are expected in the coming months. These include a hearing in the case of Shajad Hussain, of Primary Way, Undercliffe, who was jailed for more than three years in April after fraudulently claiming £314,000 in care and welfare payments meant for his ailing family members, including more than £130,000 claimed from Bradford Council.

Mr McKinnon-Evans said the hearing, due in December, was likely to result in a significant confiscation order.