'Voice stress' technology to help more councils catch benefit fraudsters » Local Government » 24dash.com

A scheme which checks voice stress levels to catch benefit fraudsters is to be extended across the country under moves which could save £30 million a year, it was announced today.

The Government will provide funding worth £1.5 million to treble the number of local authorities in Britain testing the technology from the current seven to 22.

Ministers believe that around 10,000 fraudsters could be caught using the so-called voice risk analysis (VRA) technology, which picks up any stress in a caller's voice as they answer questions.

Anti-fraud minister James Plaskitt announced the extension of the scheme during a visit to Harrow in north-west London, one of the local authorities which piloted VRA, saving it an estimated £420,000 in benefit claims.

"This positive and encouraging news from the pilots shows that this technology is helping to combating benefit fraud. It is also making it quicker and easier to review claims, especially for those people who are genuinely entitled to benefits," said Mr Plaskitt.

"Harrow council is one of seven local authority pilots nationwide, who have already recognised that this cutting-edge technology can be used to stop criminals and is a unique weapon in the fight against benefit fraud.

"Overall, the huge majority of people who receive benefits are entitled to them. However, there is a minority who will still try to steal money from those people who are most vulnerable. We need to continue to do more to make sure that taxpayers' money always goes to those who need it most."

VRA technology spots changes in a caller's voice, enabling trained operators to decide whether a call is high or low risk and what further action to take.

Initial results from the pilots have shown that the risk-ratings made using VRA have been successful. Of the cases rated as high risk, an estimated 30% identified a change that wouldn't have otherwise been discovered.

Around £13 billion is paid out in housing benefit every year to four million people, with an estimated £150 million claimed fraudulently.

A left-wing Labour MP said he was "appalled" at renewed attacks on benefit claimants.

John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) said: "No-one condones fraud but people have a right to claim benefits that they have paid their taxes to fund without being treated like criminals.

"Just like over the 10p tax issue, the Government is attacking the most vulnerable.

"Far more revenue is lost through tax avoidance by corporations and wealthy individuals than through benefit fraud.

"Why aren't we applying lie detector technology to those who are really ripping off the system - the City elite who cost the Treasury up to £150 billion in tax avoidance?"

A spokesman for the Child Poverty Action Group said: "It is deeply worrying that the Department for Work and Pensions does not appear to have made any evaluation of the pilots and has made the decision on what seems to be anecdotal evidence.

"Major concerns were expressed by disability and welfare rights organisations that this technology is unproven, stigmatising and could put off legitimate but vulnerable claimants from accessing welfare rights.

"We need to see a proper evaluation before more vulnerable claimants are experimented on."