Fraud arrests at construction training exam centre

Police investigating alleged fraud at an exam centre for construction industry trainees have arrested four men.

Officers said the centre in Winchester, Hampshire, was suspected of accepting payments to help people gain qualifications.

Police seized cash and electronic devices in raids in Winchester and Southampton on Sunday.

The suspects - a 47-year-old man from Southampton, a 25-year-old from Birmingham, a 46-year-old from Swindon and a 53-year-old from West Bromwich - have been released on bail until 15 May while inquiries continue.

All were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud. The Southampton man is additionally suspected of possessing criminal property.

The investigation relates to an independent test centre on Southgate Street, police said.

Detectives said they were alerted by the Construction Industry Training Board to suspicious activity at the site.

The inquiry relates to exams leading to Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards, which prove that construction workers have appropriate training and qualifications, police added.

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