I suppose my point is that I have had CRB screening for 20 years with no problems, plus my record at work was clean. My solicitor said that the workplaces are not normally contacted unless your case is linked to company fraud....plus I was pleading not guilty. I would have thought that in the ballance my company of 25years could have had a bit more faith before making a knee jerk reaction. Subsequently my career that I had been building up was ruined and I was innocent...its just very frustrating. With regard to job applications, for my possition, I would think so as any convictions would show up on the high level CRB check. I think it depends on what type of CRB check is required. Also HR would screen applications before I would see them so it would depend on company policy as to which applications were acceptable? Does that answer your query? I would just be interested if anyone has had experience with something like this. Or, if anyone knows if I should seek legal help? thanks again for your reply

It just doesn't seem fair! Especially as he is not under any suspicion. Sounds like he is making the best moves that he can and just keep logging his complaints. Good luck to him and I hope that it all turns out OK.

Thanks...the employee handbook quotes "fraud" as grounds for suspention...however it is in a context refering to the company...but still ambigious enough to wriggle out of! I worked for an airline so I was automatically CRB checked and because I worked airside at an airport my check was quite high. the investigation they performed was nonsence as no investigation was actually done. Still don't know if I have grounds to sue....but I shall check my contract....thats good advice. Thanks for your reply

Hi...benefit fraud...I have a disabled daughter and claimed careers allowance whilst not working. When i returned to work, I advised the benefits agencies....but I needed to call careers seperately. I thought the benefits call which did all the other disabled benefits included careers. Anyway it was an innocent mistake but they went for me. I won the case easily but lost my job and found it very stressfull. I remember going to the interview. i went alone but wish now that I took someone. This would be for moral support and also to help recollect later the conversation and for evidence. I also wish i taped the call for myself on a recorder....anyway...that may be something you want to consider. The reason I say this is because, if you do go to court they will transcribe the interview and it is done, I think, by computer and misses out many key words and tone and made my transcript (when read out in court) sound dithery and furtive...which it wasn't. Just be prepared that they may tape you and caution you...as this took me by suprise! Think hard what evidence they have as they will produce it during the interview and expect you to comment. Just stick to the truth and try not to waver. The questioning will try and get what they want from you so just stick to your guns and don't let yourself be talked into something that didn't happen or that was not how you saw it. Just remember that you are innocent. I hope this doesn't scare you too much and just helps you be prepared....as I wasn't. A good interview now may stop any further action. Good luck and fingers crossed...I like to know how it goes.

I am new to this forum so not sure if this is the right place...however I am really struggling to know what to do. I worked for my employer for nearly 25 years and held a very responsible job. During that time I gave birth to my daughter who is disabled. For a time I took unpaid leave and claimed careers allowance. Its a long story...but...in short, the DWP prosecuted me for benefit fraud. They contacted my place of work who suspended me pending investigation. Firstly I was suprised that I was suspended as this was not fraud against my company, I was pleading innocence and it was a personal matter with no links to my workplace. I won my case easily and I was allowed to return to work. However, I felt that my reputation was so damaged that despite being innocent, my career was effectively over due to the smeer of suspention. Is there a case her to sue my company? If yes what sort of lawyer do I need? I have no idea...but feel that I have done nothing wrong, other than work hard for 25years and now have lost my job, pension and prospects. Thanks for any help.

I am new to this forum...but just read your post with much interest. Firstly how did he get on? I ask this as I was also suspended from my workplace. I had worked there for 25yrs and had a good reputation. The DWP prosecuted me for benefit fraud....a case which I easily won (and want to sue them for...another matter). However because at work, I was in a possition of trust and responsibility....I felt that I could no longer effectively continue in my possition and handed in my notice. Because the fraud was nothing to do with my company, plus I was pleading not guilty, makes me think that the suspension was harsh and unnessasary. So for this reason I see a similarity with your friend. I don't believe I should have been suspended and I could have carried on with my career. Did your friend sue his company?

I want to sue the DWP for incorrectly prosecuting me and for the loss of my job. I have outlined my situation below.....has anyone done this or know how to go about it? I am just getting over a rotten experience with the DWP. I have a disabled daughter and I claim careers allowance for her. initially I could not work but was able to return to work part time when she was 2 and a half years old. When returning to work I contacted tax credits to advise of my return to work and to advise my new salary. I advised them that I was claiming careers allowance. Some benefits stopped but careers was still paid so I assumed I was under the working allowance threshold. Two years later I was prosecuted and taken to court because the call to tax credits was the wrong phone no to advise careers and careers had continued paying me when I was no longer eligible. I paid the overdue back in full immediately. I argued in court that the tax credits is the phone no to call for most other benefits including DLA and that their brochures encourages you tall call tax credits. So I thought that I was calling the correct phone no and that I had let the rights agencies know I was back at work. I also argued that my NI no was given by myself and I was under no illusion that this would indicate to all benefits that I was working. I won my case after only minutes of the magistrates deliberation. The prosecutor also admitted that this should never have come to court. However, previous to the court date, the DWP contacted my workplace of 25yrs to advise I was being prosecuted for fraud. I was suspended. I argued that I should not have been suspended as I was not prosecuted for company fraud, I was pleading not guilty and that it was a personal matter separate from my workplace. However due to this suspension for fraud, my reputation at work was damaged and I could no longer work effectively and handed in my notice. Can anyone tell me if they think I have a case to sue the DWP for wrongly deciding to prosecute and for compensation for the loss of my job, compensation for stress etc.? Thanks for any help out there! Miss Iamangry

Hi, I am new to this so not sure how you are getting on. How did the interview go? I had the same experienve last year and was prosecuted but I won my case. I can try and give some advice if you are going through thr prosecution experience? Miss Iamangry