Stop smoking fraud claim probed

The stop smoking programme was set up nine years ago

Evidence of irregularities in government programmes to help smokers quit has been uncovered by BBC London.

The investigation suggested "Tobacco Advisors" had made false claims for money from local health authorities.

Harry Singer of Kensington and Chelsea, west London, is accused of claiming £45 per person, for people who say they had no involvement in the scheme.

Mr Singer denies any wrongdoing. The government said NHS stop smoking services had been "hugely effective".

A statement from the Department of Health said: "This year £56m was allocated to the NHS for smoking cessation services.

"We know that NHS stop smoking services have been hugely effective in helping people quit."

Training programme

The government's Smoking Cessation programme was set up nine years ago and pays doctors, pharmacists and community groups £45 for every patient they get to quit for four weeks.

Mr Singer runs the Threshold Kensington and Chelsea Residents' Association in Earl's Court.

He undertook a government funded training programme to become a qualified Tobacco Advisor and received £90,000 from the local health authority.

As part of the investigation BBC London tracked down some of the 2,000 people Mr Singer made claims for.

The problem is that the system is open to abuse Dr Robert West

One of them, James Campion, who is a social smoker, denied ever taking part in the scheme although he did recall signing a petition in support of the no smoking ban.

Another person on Mr Singer's list told BBC London he has never smoked and another quitter on the list was Mr Singer himself.

Mr Singer claimed of the £45 received per claimant, £25 went to a "community kitty" administered by him. A further £15 went to his clipboard team and £5 was given to the people who signed up, he said.

In an separate investigation, Anil Shah was fined £1,800 on Friday after being found guilty of false accounting.

Shah, who runs a chemist in Shepherd's Bush, west London, was convicted at Blackfriars Crown Court last month.

Dr Robert West, who designed the Smoking Cessation programme, said he was not surprised suspect claims are being made.

"The problem is that the system is open to abuse. We need to tighten up monitoring, we need to tighten up the financial controls.