Four workers have been sacked from North Ayrshire Council over thefts from a rubbish tip.
Materials were nicked from Bartonholm recycling centre in Irvine, the council’s annual fraud report has revealed. The dismissed staff were later convicted at court.
The report said: “Following an investigation into the theft of materials from the Bartonholm recycling centre in Irvine, four employees were dismissed, reported to the Procurator Fiscal and subsequently convicted.”
It is one of the investigations carried out by the council’s corporate fraud team between April 2018 and the end of March.
The crackdowns have led to “successful financial outcomes” worth £132,000.
Among the probes are council tax claims, Blue Badge misuse and tenants abandoning their council houses.
The team received 23 complaints about Blue Badge fraud and four cases were reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
Five badges were seized and a number of warning letters sent out.
The team have also carried out a number of house of multiple occupation investigations.
Empty homes registered for council tax relief have also been unearthed – leading to the recovery of £8000.
The corporate fraud annual report was presented to the Audit and Scrutiny Committee last week.
The report put before councillors said: “The Corporate Fraud Team provides the council with the capacity to investigate fraud both within and against the organisation.”
The council’s fraud squad received 356 reports of fraud during the financial year 2018 to 2019.
Sixty nine cases were referred on to Police Scotland, the National Crime Agency, other council services and elsewhere.
The report said publicising the team “continues to be successful in generating a constant stream of referrals.”
