Three people were convicted of money laundering after prosecutions from the town hall’s fraud team.

The defendants, who Hackney Council would not name, were each guilty of two offences and received suspended sentences.

The fraud team also brought action against four members of staff between April and August – one of whom was sacked for stealing.

Another resigned while an investigation into their immigration status was being carried out. A final warning was dished out to one member of staff for “failure to provide an honest account”, and another who had been late in paying a debt faced disciplinary action.

During the same period, four bogus Right to Buy bids were either withdrawn or cancelled, saving at least £300,000 and 25 housing applications were stopped or downgraded – saving the council anywhere between £100,000 and £450,000.