Following months of intelligence gathering, Barking and Dagenham Council and its wholly owned housing company, BD Reside, can now reveal they are working with City of London Police’s Domestic Corruption Unit, the national lead police force for fraud, on an investigation relating to suspected housing fraud.

This morning (4 September 2025), police officers executed five warrants on residential addresses in Dagenham and Essex and arrested two individuals as part of Operation Chandrila. 

Further information cannot be released while the investigation is ongoing, but City of London Police, the council and BD Reside are encouraging anyone who might have information relating to Operation Chandrila to confidentially report it directly to the police. More information about how to submit information that could help the case can be found at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/4801020125R39-PO1. 

The investigation is just one part of the council’s commitment to protecting tax-payers. Leader of the Council, Cllr Dominic Twomey, said: “Every day, our fraud team are behind the scenes, looking into anything from corruption concerns to illegal sub-letting. Ultimately their job is to make sure public money is being spent in the way it should be, so I’m really pleased their proactive work has helped lead to today’s arrests.

“Huge thanks go to our colleagues at City of London Police for the work they’ve done so far working in collaboration with the council and BD Reside. Now we wait to see what happens as the investigation unfolds, but I would encourage anyone who feels they have information that could help – no matter how small or irrelevant it may seem – to come forward.” 

Photo credit - City of London Police Domestic Corruption Unit