Police arrest two in housing fraud investigation

Police arrested two people as part of their investigation

City of London Police has arrested two people over possible corruption in the housing department at Barking and Dagenham Council.

The force's domestic corruption unit carried out "multiple warrants" in Dagenham, east London, and Essex as part of an investigation into suspected housing fraud offences linked to the authority.

It is looking into the allocation of several hundred council properties between November 2020 and December 2024.

After the five warrants were executed on Thursday, Barking and Dagenham Council and its wholly-owned housing company, BD Reside, said they were working with police on an investigation relating to suspected housing fraud.

City of London Police said: "Prospective tenants answered social media adverts and were provided contacts as to how they could obtain affordable housing within the local Barking and Dagenham areas."

The forcer said would-be tenants "paid fraudsters 'finders fees' and inflated rents".

Potential victims are being encouraged to come forward and complete a questionnaire as part of the investigation.

The council's leader, Labour councillor Dominic Twomey, said: "Now we wait to see what happens as the investigation unfolds, but I would encourage anyone who feels they have information that could help – no matter how small or irrelevant it may seem – to come forward."

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