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Wed, 22 Apr 2026

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 Four arrested over suspected home insulation scheme fraud

The Serious Fraud Office raided homes and businesses over alleged conspiracy to defraud public money.

* Four people have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud in relation to a botched government home insulation scheme.
* An investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) found that three companies had claimed £44m in public money through the Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) scheme, which was intended to help people in fuel poverty.
* The SFO alleges that the companies, JJ Crump, South Coast Insulation Services, and Warmfront, claimed money for insulation work on 5,000 properties they never installed.
* The ECO4 scheme has been widely criticized for its poor quality of work, with many homeowners experiencing damp and mould in their homes due to poorly installed insulation.
* Almost all (98%) of the external wall insulations delivered under the scheme required repairs, according to a report by the National Audit Office.
* Energy minister Martin McCluskey said it was "appalling" that people had allegedly tried to line their own pockets with funding intended to help families lower their energy bills.