BENEFIT cheats will now find it harder to slip through the net thanks to a major new crackdown.
Greenwich Council has secured £42,000 from the Department of Work and Pensions to fund its latest drive to catch benefit fraudsters.
The money will enable council officers to carry out extra visits to homes across the borough, to make sure they are not being illegally let to the occupier.
Council chiefs have also vowed to clampdown on people who are giving false information to claim more benefit than they are entitled to.
Cabinet member for housing Councillor Peter Kotz promised the council will take a "tough stance" on cheats.
He added: "Those who commit benefit fraud are taking money which could be better used for frontline services."
Since April 2004, 83 people in the borough have been prosecuted for benefit fraud with a further 43 receiving cautions.
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