MORE council staff are being investigated over allegations of stealing taxpayers’ money – and the recession has been blamed for the increase.

Worcestershire County Council said it has seen a significant increase in fraudulent behaviour among some of its staff over the last couple of years.

Wychavon District Council and Malvern Hills District Council said they have not had any instances of staff committing fraud in the last two years. It was not known if Worcester City Council has had any cases as your Worcester News went to press.

While the amount of money being diverted away from County Hall and into the accounts of a small number of staff members is said to be “significantly less than £10,000”, council chiefs say the criminal behaviour is unacceptable.

Martin Finch, head of financial practice and standards, said: “It can’t be tolerated.”

At the county’s audit and governance committee meeting Mr Finch said there are currently four internal investigations into cases of fraudulent behaviour by staff members.

Mr Finch said one woman working in Worcestershire County Council’s adult and community services department had already been sacked this year after an investigation.

“She was arranging a number of events and through a complex series of double-blinds blinds she was benefitting from that work,” he said.

“Some money was going into her household and there were some concerns about travel and mileage claims which led to her dismissal.”

Mr Finch said the police looked at the case, as is normal practice following investigations of this type, but added officers decided to take no further action.

“If an individual loses their job the Crown Prosecution Service sometimes says that is an adequate response,” he said. “Sometimes it is in the public interest to take it forward and we would work with the police to do that.”

Mr Finch said the amount of resources devoted to special investigation work has increased by five per cent this year.

“It’s interesting that there’s only a five per cent increase on last year, but last year there was a very significant increase on the year before,” he said.

Mr Finch said when personal budgets come under pressure it can drive people to fraudulent behaviour.

He said there are three factors pushing a person to fraud – an opportunity to abuse a system, motivation, and finding a way to rationalise the behaviour.

“That triangle definitely increases as people come under pressure,” he said.

Mr Finch said the council does recover money wherever possible, and one person immediately paid back all the money owed once an investigation was started.

Mr Finch said while there are a number of anti-fraud controls, the council cannot counteract the most determined people.

However, he said work is taking place with departmental bosses to tighten up on mileage claims, while staff are to be reminded of the councils whistle blowing policy.