Benefit fraudsters to be identified publicly

The practice of publicly identifying people who have been convicted of benefit fraud is to be reintroduced in Northern Ireland, the communities minister has said.

Gordon Lyons, of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said the move was part of a "zero-tolerance approach".

The Department for Communities (DfC) stopped publishing the names of benefit fraudsters in 2020 following a decision by the Sinn Féin minister at the time.

Deirdre Hargey said publicising names was "not necessary", and she wanted the department to instead look at providing broader information.

Benefit fraud in Northern Ireland is estimated to cost more than £163m a year, according to the DfC - about 2% of total Stormont expenditure.

Lyons said the department received about 10,000 fraud allegations a year.

Speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday, the minister said he was "determined to use every tool to tackle this issue".

"My department will now be reintroducing the practice of naming those who have been convicted of benefit fraud," he said.

"Fraud is a crime, and those who commit it must be held accountable.

"We will ensure that our processes continue to be as effective as possible in delivering that accountability, including the recovery of money from those who claim it under false pretences."

Lyons said welfare fraud was "not just a financial issue" but also a "moral one".

"When individuals cheat the system, they are not stealing from a faceless entity," he said.

"They are taking from their neighbours, their friends, and their fellow citizens. They are undermining the very safety net that so many rely on.

"Therefore, let me be unequivocal – I am taking a zero-tolerance approach."