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FB comments on Police / DWP stop story
Storified by · Tue, Dec 04 2012 03:54:20
As these people was ‘asked’ surly they didn’t have to give there information out if they didn’t want to? But on the other hand, why not? These people that do commit benefit fraud have to be caught out, one way or another. At least they are trying to do something about it.Zara Evelin Flynn
i wasnt stopped but if i had of been i would of welcomed the chat intusive or not. fraud is fraud the system is there for those in need not those as reported in this weeks press who claimed thousands just because they could.Lisa Thorner
and how many "Benefit Fraudsters" did they catch?????Jay Williams
It was an excellent idea to catch the thieving scum, benefits cheats….Maybe that’s what is concerning Labour…Was it mainly their voters that were caught???lol I had to wait 2 hours to get a trye repaired because there were so many "panic buyers". Ay least the number of accidents caused by illegal tyres might go down this winter.Scott Newman
Actually I think it makes a lot of sense agencies working together, otherwise you would have to set up 3 road stops like this.Its a bit like the road being dug up for gas and then relayed and a week later along come BT to dig it up again and i’m sure we have all said at some point why cant they work together.For me I have nothing to hide and right now the country needs to claw back every penny after many years of Labour mis spending money the country did not have.Alistair Dickinson
If they have nothing to hide there isnt a problem….. The people that dont deserve benefits should be caught by any means.Helen Vernau
How many actual ‘benefit fraudsters” were caught and more importantly, how much did it cost me to catch them? Last time I looked, we didn’t live in Nazi Germany. Yet more establishment divide and conquer tactics – seems to be working – be careful what you wish for – next they’ll be asking if you have ever driven over the speed limit or stolen a pen from your place of work! The race to the bottom continues…………….Paul Woodcock
Yeah, Paul! You carry on working and paying your taxes so’s people can claim them in benefits whilst working a full-time "cash in hand" job.Scott Newman
Even if one when you read any got caught for any amount then it may make others look over their shoulders even then they try find other Ways to fiddle look in paper an amount of x thousands is nothing what they think is their RightBill Remnant
Does anyone not think that it’s wrong for the police and benefits agencies to intrude on your personal life for no good reason?? People should protect their rights more before they have non left!! As much as I hate benefit thieves, I quite like my basic human rights!Joe N Laura Mason
But it is for a good reason!!Zara Evelin Flynn
Really?? What reason is good enough that you give up the right to any privacy!! What about the billions that is spent on illegal wars?? Or white collar criminals that get away with billions of pounds worth of fraud?? Or tax dodgers like Starbucks?Joe N Laura Mason
How else are they going to find people claiming benefits illegally? And its not like they was digging behind peoples backs, they was asking them. That’s not the subject that is being spoken about though, even though I don’t work and get benefits I wouldn’t care if I did get questioned as have nothing to hide :)Zara Evelin Flynn
That’s what I’m trying to ascertain Scott. How many people who claim "benefits whilst working a full-time "cash in hand" job" did the operation catch? I hate wasted money – it’s just as bad to waste public money on the police and HMRC clogging up the roads as it is for someone to be fraudulently claiming money!Paul Woodcock
fine to say "if they have nothing to hide…" but what about the police? this joint dwp/police sting was put out as a dangerous driving campaign , but it wasn’t , that was a lie.i don’t think people like what they did mainly because we were lied to.it was misuse because the dangerous driving that it was supposed to be about was not their agenda , ie they were not looking for dangerous drivers at all , the were looking for benefit fraudsters.Bruce Steers
And actually, while I think about it, is it an offence to be claiming benefits and driving a car?Paul Woodcock
Hmmm, "benefit cheat". Who here thinks that watching downloaded Premier League football matches streamed from Russia is a form of "benefit cheat"?Steven Ward
there are tried and tested ways of catching benefit fraudsters , who incidentally cost the tax payer far less than the white collar criminals . the cost to society of benefit fraudsters is further reduced by the fact that they are more likely to spend their money localy unlike "the white collar scum ;) " who take it all away to tax havens. Not saying it is right to commit benefit fraud nor is it right to commit traffic offenses , however the real villains are the ones employing benefit fraudsters in order to maximize their profits . we all know who they are , but nothing will ever be done. When they build dhss central ( colditz ) in leeds , about 50% of the workforce were on benefit whilst working . if the government can’t sort big problems like that right on their doorstep then why the hell bother with piddling efforts like this one. Even our mp is at it with his bending of the rules . so eat that tory wanabees .Stephen Smith
Someone forgot the basis of our culture, which starts by assuming we have not broken the law unless there is evidence to suggest otherwise. This episode was an outrageous intrusion by one arm of government, which apparently went on a fishing expedition, apparently with Council connivance. These people need to remember that they are supposed to be the SERVANTS of the people, not their masters!Chris Wilmott
At least people will (possibly) think twice before working and claiming. It was worth it just as a deterrent. So it may have been put out in the media that it was a "dangerous driving/vehicle safety campaign" butu what does it matter… Would you like the police to call petrol stations when they’re being robbed to let the armed robbers know that will be along in 5 minutes? The "surprise" factor paid dividends, methinks.Scott Newman
Would be interesting if they had caught anybody, if so, then whichever way it was done it was worth it.Zara Evelin Flynn
…Oh and Comrade Smith….I’m not a " tory" anything…Just someone who see’s the bigger picture… without political blinkers….AND you’ll be pleased to know that Leeds City Council, who are more likely to be responsible for "employing" the workforce on the D.H.S.S. building you mentioned, is LABOUR.Scott Newman
scott , didn’t mention your name once . As for bigger picture i think you need to think bigger still , if the people at the top played by the rules then the people at the bottom might follow , till then i can not sit in judgement of them . i chose not to get involved , i teach my kids by example that money and material possessions are not the be all and end all , to use old tech and mend and make do , cutting my cloth so to speak , however i can see , just like anyone with eyes that our role models are rotten thieving scum from the top down . hardly surprising that we find ourselves where we do today . not making excuses for those who cheat the system at any level . however , i know which money i would go for first if i were the government and its the big money . oh and i’m not a communist or anything else :) . i would say that you might refrain from teaching me to use words like scum though , lest your offended .Stephen Smith
there are rules for a reason zara . and if they have been broken then that may well be as punishable as the original crime . not saying that is the case but if it is then it is us who pay the bill for our officials errors . funny eh :)Stephen Smith
I cant see how rules have been broken by 3 departments working together as 1 to crack down on cheats, unless i am missing somwthing, or just far to tired to understand what else you mean, been a long day. Your never gonna stop cheats and lies etc, as the system is far to easy to manipulate for some, and yet my daughter cant ever ride a bike or something similar outside, as they will not fund the equipment needed for her, and we on benifits cannot afford to buy her one, yet some people get given a paid for flat etc.Zara Evelin Flynn
not sure in this case Zara , i’m not a lawyer . i do know that there will be many lawsuits won this and every year where our officials have acted illegally . this extends right through central government , local government and the lea , the health service , police and even the armed forces . my point is that all those payouts are made from our colective taxes and funnels cash from front line resources . like our daughters vital equipment . the policy on mobility aids on the isle of wight is or was at the last time of asking was " if you don’t need a wheelchair etc to move around inside your home then you are not entitled to the equipment for outside use" , this may have changed in recent years but i would need to see confirmation of this . i don’t know about you but i would rather see people helped rather than hindered . the value of this operation by the three agencies is questionable , as are its ethics . Benefit cheats won’t fix the hole in the economy , the correct taxing of big business and its beneficiaries will. not saying that we should ignore the smaller issues , but when i mop the floor i start in the deepest part of the mess .Stephen Smith
I’d like to know if anyone who refers to others as benefit cheats have honestly never paid cash for tradesman or car repairs etc to get a cheaper bill , it’s all cheating the system just on different sides of the fence . Rob Hayward
She is in a wheelchair, although we dont use it indoors, as space is limited. I couldnt tell you what the policy is, all i no is that due to goverment cutbacks no one can afford to spend the £400+ that it will cost for one.Zara Evelin Flynn
Only on the Island…………Etty Mckinley
good point rob , its a wedge after all , there’s always a thin end .Stephen Smith
This in from the Isle of Wight Labour Party. In their own words. Ed
