MORE THAN half the people investigated by a council's fraud-busters were found to be on the fiddle - to the tune of more than £1 million a year.

Of the 1,923 cases Blackburn Council looked at in 1995/96, 1,000 claims were found to be fraudulent.

Cheats had been claiming a total of £1,222,917 a year for rent allowance on privately-owned homes, rebate on council house rents and council tax , the council's management and finance committee will hear on Monday .

And committee chairman Coun Bill Taylor has warned the fight against fraud will continue.

"We are concerned to eradicate cynical and organised benefit fraud.

"But we are concerned to maintain a balance between the big criminal organisers who set out to commit fraud and the individuals who have made a genuine mistake."

He stressed that officers in the benefit investigation unit had been told to crack down on crime, but they were also briefed to advise people if they found they were not claiming benefits to which they were entitled.

"I don't think our problem is anything like as bad as the big cities, but we have always been diligent and we will continue to crack down," he promised.

The council has been rewarded with a £204,700 government subsidy, based on the amount saved by fraud detection.

The government sets savings targets for every council each year, with Blackburn this year surpassing its £1 million baseline.

Next year's target will be set higher, but rewards will also be increased.

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