Forum Topic

Tagging Grandma

Whilst I don't condone benefit fraud it is more often than not a crime committed by desperate people on low incomes and many cases are much more complex than we read about in the press. However, it is a cruel and unusual punishment to put an electronic tag on a woman who presumably poses no flight risk. They don't tag people who steal far larger sums of money with much less real need in corporate crime cases. This just strikes me as kicking someone when she is down.

Justin Harris ● 6638d6 Comments

Justin,Who are you referring to?

Keith Iddon ● 6638d

Just seen this on the home page.She is no a little old dear,only 56.Not much older than me and we do not know the ins and outs of the story. I think she was probably lucky not to go down for 18mths or so and then made to pay it back.I have little sympathy for people who are on benefits as a career option and then steal from the public purse as well.They should crack down big time on benefit and tax fraud in this country,or am I wrong?

Keith Iddon ● 6638d

I'm with you Keith, benefit fraud is as serious as robbing a bank,it is theft from the public purse and it isn't always committed by desperate people at all. It is committed by greedy, dishonest people who lie and cheat us - the taxpayers. I used to work for the DWP and I can tell you some of the strokes pulled would boggle the mind! She should count herself lucky she only got what she did, if you can't do the time don't do the crime.

Vanessa Smith ● 6637d

As I said, originally I don't condone benefit fraud although it is clearly not as serious as robbing a bank because no threat of violence is involved. My point is that punishments in our justice system seem to be increasingly determined by the social status of the criminal. If this woman had embezzled a bank or was a bent lawyer or accountant she would not have been tagged even if the sums involved were far greater.

Justin Harris ● 6637d

Maybe - but when it comes to benefits there is an element of trust where you are told you must notify the relevant department if your circumstances change, having a working partner and still claiming is fraud like it or not.

Vanessa Smith ● 6637d

A Tag is neither hardship nor handicap - just ask the 20% of Tagees who cut theirs off and go out and commit more crime.

Harley Buckner ● 6636d