Sutton Council’s fraud investigation team has been nominated for two national awards after recovering almost £500,000 in false benefits claims.

The team have been shortlisted for the ‘Excellence in Anti-Fraud’ and ‘Most Improved Team of the Year’ categories in the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation Performance awards 2010.

Following the recession, benefits claims increased by 20 per cent since April 2008 and the team is recognised for continuing to provide an excellent service despite the increase in workload.

The figure of £500,000 was the result of around 150 penalties ranging from small fines to arrests and prison sentences between March 2009 and April 2010.

More offenders were prosecuted, cautioned or fined in the last year in Sutton than the other five boroughs in south west London.

Councillor John Drage, the council’s finance spokesman, said: “With only up to five finalists from local authorities across the country making the shortlist for each award, reaching this stage is already great recognition of their success.”

The winners will be announced on September 30 at the IRRV Conference in Harrogate, West Yorkshire.