A total of 49 suspected loan cheats were arrested in Bradford in a crackdown by West Yorkshire Police and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Sixty-seven homes were visited during the joint operation between Neighbourhood Policing Team officers and DWP workers, leading to the arrests being made on suspicion of illegally obtaining crisis loans.

Police charged 33 suspects with fraud by false representation, 11 people were given bail and five were released with no further action to be taken after the addresses were swooped on between June 19 and last Thursday.

PC Phil Roe, of the Bradford South Operations Planning Department, said: “Working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, we were able to gather significant intelligence which enabled us to take action.

“Honest, hard-working tax payers should not tolerate those who attempt to take advantage of the system.”