HMRC arrests three men over fraud relating to Rishi Sunak's food scheme Eat Out to Help Out

The first arrests come out of alleged fraud in two state help programs for companies affected by Covid-19.

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of fraud relating to the Eat Out to Help Out rebate programme, HMRC has revealed.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officials visited addresses around London yesterday (November 3) and arrested three men aged 43, 48 and 37 on suspicion of fraud and misappropriation of public funds by making false declarations.

Three people were also arrested on suspicion of fraud in connection with coronavirus payback funds.

The trio were detained and charged with fraudulently receiving £145, 000 in state loans in the Birmingham area on October 30.

All three suspects have been questioned and have now been released as part of the investigation, according to the National Police Authority (NCA).

These are First arrests for alleged fraud in connection with the plans of Chancellor Rishi Sunak to increase expenditure in the hotel sector.

At the time of the Mail's inquiry, fraud experts warned that the suspected scam was just the "tip of the iceberg" and highlighted how easy it is for government coronavirus schemes to be exploited - costing taxpayers tens of billions of pounds.