Defence chiefs spend '£10m' on private detectives to vet soldiers' compensation claims

mirror.co.uk:

Defence chiefs have spent up to £10million spying on troops and veterans suspected of making bogus compensation claims. The taxpayer cash has gone on hiring private detectives to check if people are lying about the extent of their wounds and mental suffering.

Investigators were paid up to £1,750 a day to monitor around 500 serving and former personnel since 2003. The Ministry of Defence says it does not have a figure for the total cost – but with some operations lasting weeks, the bill is estimated to be up to £10million.

The MoD began using private investigators after compensation levels soared following the start of the war in Iraq in 2003. Since then, it has paid out nearly £1billion.