Camden New Journal - By PAUL KEILTHY Published: 10 May 2007
Police probe alleged rent theft
FRAUD squad detectives have been called in to investigate the alleged theft of rents at a Crown-owned estate which houses key workers.
The Met’s financial crime experts were summoned to Cumberland Market estate, next to Regent’s Park, by landlords the Crown Estate on Thursday following a three-month internal investigation and the suspension of a housing officer, revealed in the New Journal last week.
A spokesman for the Crown Estate said on Friday: “I can confirm we have now passed on allegations of crime to the police.” He said the investigation by Crown auditors had prompted “general allegations of fraud” but refused to comment on the scale of the alleged crime.
Estate tenants were asked to call a hotline to discuss complaints about money management at the Crown’s housing office in Redhill Street.
Tenants were advised to check standing order rent payments were being paid into the correct Crown Estate account.