Commenting on the press statements on a set of measures to reduce benefit fraud including "three strikes and you are out", Minister Alex Atwood said: " In the week of announcements on forthcoming public spending cuts, these statements only serve to reinforce concerns that I hold that the focus of fraud and error resources is on targeting the most vulnerable in our society rather than on those individuals and companies who avoid paying their taxes.
“The proposed measures could lead to people not claiming benefits because they are worried about fines if they make a mistake and also targets whole communities by proposing mobile task forces to investigate all claims in particular areas where there is high level of benefit payments. I fully support tackling benefit fraud but not in ways that seek to demonise individuals and communities."
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