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Pensions 'paid to dead officers' Pensions 'paid to dead officers'
(about 6 hours later)
Claims police pensions are being paid to former officers who have died are being investigated by Scotland Yard.Claims police pensions are being paid to former officers who have died are being investigated by Scotland Yard.
An audit has found the families of 12 ex-Metropolitan Police employees may have failed to tell the force of the deaths and continued drawing pensions.An audit has found the families of 12 ex-Metropolitan Police employees may have failed to tell the force of the deaths and continued drawing pensions.
Internal auditors said the force blocked payments worth a total of £167,000 in the past financial year.Internal auditors said the force blocked payments worth a total of £167,000 in the past financial year.
Formal police inquiries could be launched if evidence is found of criminal wrongdoing.Formal police inquiries could be launched if evidence is found of criminal wrongdoing.
Police pensions are among the most generous in the public sector, with previous deals allowing officers to stop work after 30 years service on two thirds of their final salary.Police pensions are among the most generous in the public sector, with previous deals allowing officers to stop work after 30 years service on two thirds of their final salary.
'Identified and stopped''Identified and stopped'
The suspected "phantom" payments were discovered in a trawl of paperwork under the National Fraud Initiative, which is carried out by the Audit Commission.The suspected "phantom" payments were discovered in a trawl of paperwork under the National Fraud Initiative, which is carried out by the Audit Commission.
The initiative encourages public bodies to check electronically-held data about individuals to detect scams and overpayments.The initiative encourages public bodies to check electronically-held data about individuals to detect scams and overpayments.
Internal investigators also found several officers were fraudulently claiming benefits, some of whom were disciplined while others resigned.Internal investigators also found several officers were fraudulently claiming benefits, some of whom were disciplined while others resigned.
Peter Tickner, the force's director of internal audit, said three "phantom" pensioners were uncovered in a similar review during the previous financial year.Peter Tickner, the force's director of internal audit, said three "phantom" pensioners were uncovered in a similar review during the previous financial year.
In a report to the Metropolitan Police Authority, Mr Tickner said: "[The review] has resulted in a number of pension payments, continuing after the death of the pensioner, being identified and stopped."In a report to the Metropolitan Police Authority, Mr Tickner said: "[The review] has resulted in a number of pension payments, continuing after the death of the pensioner, being identified and stopped."
The internal audit also found evidence five officers failed to notify police chiefs that they had second jobs.The internal audit also found evidence five officers failed to notify police chiefs that they had second jobs.
A further seven officers were subjected to benefit fraud investigations while 11 faced allegations of false claims for fees, expenses and overtime.A further seven officers were subjected to benefit fraud investigations while 11 faced allegations of false claims for fees, expenses and overtime.
'Small' rate
Mr Tickner said the majority of investigations were launched into officers from the force's territorial police branch.Mr Tickner said the majority of investigations were launched into officers from the force's territorial police branch.
Officers from the specialist and central operations wings, which deal with some of the most high-profile criminal and terrorist inquiries, were also investigated in the audit.Officers from the specialist and central operations wings, which deal with some of the most high-profile criminal and terrorist inquiries, were also investigated in the audit.
A Met spokesman said: "To identify 12 instances where the death has not been reported from a pensioner payroll of over 25,000 is considered a small match rate.
"Authority auditors are in the process of investigating each case in more detail."