Four people held over allegations of fraud

Four people have been arrested in connection with allegations of fraud at Hounslow Homes the organisation which manages council homes for the borough.

Three men, aged 44, 49 and 52, and a women aged 41 have been bailed to return for questioning in October. They are all former employees of Hounslow Homes.

Earlier this year the findings of an internal inquiry by Hounslow Council had been passed onto police. Around the same time two Hounslow Homes employees were dismissed and another resigned for reasons related to the council's investigation.

A council spokesperson said, “We are cooperating fully with the police investigation. Earlier this year we passed to them the findings of an independent investigation, commissioned by the council, into reported fraud at Hounslow Homes.”

Leader of Hounslow Council, Cllr Steve Curran said, “Clearly, with this now being a police matter, we cannot give any detailed comment. But what I can say is that the council, and the new board and management team of Hounslow Homes, will not tolerate any kind of fraud. If it is reported to us we take those reports extremely seriously and they are immediately investigated and acted on. That’s what happened in this instance, and I welcome the support we have received from the board of Hounslow Homes.”

Hounslow Homes is tasked with managing the council’s 16,500 homes, providing a range of services from home improvement works, to rents, caretaking and grounds maintenance works.

August 20, 2014