The DWP published a press release yesterday, reinforcing the status of benefit claimants as primarily suspected criminals. Titled Cheats warned of benefit fraud blitz, it describes how claimants who live in "high risk postcodes" will be scrutinised, "regardless of age, gender, ethnic make-up, type of benefit recipient, income, disability breakdown or family status".
The lucky claimants in Birmingham's B44 postcode, the Perry Barr and Kingstanding area, will be the first to receive the Mobile Regional Taskforce. Yet again, benefit claimants are automatically under suspicion, simply because they are unlucky enough to have to rely on government money, and now because they live in certain postcode areas.
It does not explain what makes a particular postcode 'high risk', but I would imagine they are made up of areas which are more deprived, with higher numbers of people already living in poverty. So, the more likely you are to need government support, the more under suspicion you are?
Benefit claimants are not criminals! While finding people who are committing fraud on a huge scale is clearly important, this move just reinforces the propaganda coming freely from the government and certain parts of the media that we are all ripping off 'the taxpayer' and need hunting down and prosecuting. It increases people's anger at us, and our fear at our situation, over which we have no control.
(Cross-posted at incurable hippie blog).
Campaigning against the government's distressing war on disabled benefit claimants. All posts represent the opinions of their respective authors and not WtB as a whole.
What we are to them is a source of revenue. Anyone who is costing them money instead of bringing it in has to go. That's their attitude, Labour's as well.
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" People can also report a cheat on the National Benefit Fraud Hotline number 0800 854 440 or online via: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/benefit-thieves "
ReplyDeleteIf I call this number and I report that Freud is a cheater, will they put him in prison ?
I have seen this kind of inquisition in Italy where exists the investigative agency ALDO PIRRI (Viale Somalia, 289 to 00199 Rome) that has even the toll-free number 800-253907 which can call anyone who has doubts about the real disability of a person or an employee. http://www.aldopirri.com/falsi-invalidi/truffe.htm
ReplyDeleteThe agency says that have also “ technologically advanced equipments “ . http://www.aldopirri.com/aldopirriinvestigazioni.htm
Consequently, even behind an anonymous phone call of ignorant persons , any disable can suffer interferences in his private life .
Also in Switzerland, the Swiss disability insurance has begun to employ private investigators to uncover fraud in the disability insurance.
http://www.infoinsubria.com/2010/09/007-a-caccia-di-falsi-invalidi/
" Lord Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform said:
ReplyDelete"The new Taskforce is our latest weapon in tackling welfare fraud on the front line. We are sending a clear warning that if you are fiddling the system, you will be caught. Welfare fraud is a crime and takes money away from the most vulnerable.
"People who are receiving the correct benefits and Tax Credits have absolutely nothing to fear. But if people have deliberately not told us of a change in circumstances, they should do so now, before the team comes knocking at their door. "
THANKS FREUD, THIS IS A GREAT PROOF OF WHAT I SUSPECTED !
"The new Taskforce is our latest weapon in tackling welfare fraud on the front line." http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2011/jul-2011/dwp080-11.shtml
ReplyDeleteThis is a clear violation of the principle of PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE : IT IS NECESSARY A COMPLAINT NOT ANONYMOUS IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE THIS TASKFORCE . IT REMINDS ME THE PERSECUTIONS OF JEWS DURING THE NAZISM !
There's a protest happening against this in B44 on July 25th. The Facebook event is here.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing about Perry Barr or Kingstanding which would suggest that they are high risk areas for benefit fraud, and they are not the most deprived areas in Birmingham. It is so mystifying why they have been selected that I fear you are right that it has been selected for disability 'cleansing'.
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