It's no longer just question of someone down on their luck fiddling a few pounds they're not strictly entitled to. Not even of determined but small-scale fraud. Now the crime gangs are movingin, determined to exploit the benefit system, and Lesley and Ray are two of the social security fraud officers whose job it is to grapple with them and expose systematic theft.
"Organised crime is gouging its way through the benefit system," they say. "Every year we are losing millions, if not billions of pounds." But they are under-resourced and overworked, and may be doing little more than scratch at the surface of the crime.
Inside Story has gained first-time access to their unit as they investigate those perpetrating this theft.