The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a plan to stop billions of pounds being lost in benefits fraud and error. The new drive will widen powers to include executing warrants, search and seizure of evidence, and even making arrests.

A total of 8,691 investigations into alleged benefit fraud were opened by the DWP up to the end of March 2023. It comes as more than 20 million people across the UK claim some form of benefit from the department, including Universal Credit and the state pension.