Bradford arrests over illegal crisis loans
Almost 50 people have been arrested on suspicion of illegally obtaining crisis loans in Bradford.
Officers from West Yorkshire Police and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) visited 67 homes in the city in a joint operation.
Crisis loans, from the DWP, provide short term financial help in an emergency or after a disaster.
The DWP said 33 individuals had been charged with offences under the Fraud Act following the 49 arrests.
Police said a further 11 people had been bailed in connection with fraud by false representation and five people had been released without charge.
PC Phil Roe, from West Yorkshire police, said: "The aim of the operation was to identify those in Bradford claiming unauthorised social security payments by dishonest means and to bring them before the courts.
"Working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, we were able to gather significant intelligence which enabled us to take action."
Decisions on crisis loans are usually made at job centre plus offices and the interest-free loans are usually repaid out of benefits.