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The campaign will feature television adverts and billboard posters highlighting the problem of taxpayers' money being stolen by benefit thieves. Last year benefit thieves received over 52,000 prosecutions, sanctions and cautions for a range of fraud offences.

John Hutton, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said:

"Benefit fraud is theft, and we are committed to catching benefit thieves and bringing the toughest penalties against those who commit this crime - no ifs, no buts.

"The public are fed up with benefit thieves stealing money intended for society's most vulnerable. There are no excuses for taking money that isn't yours."

The NO IFS, NO BUTS campaign puts the spotlight on those benefit customers who deliberately fail to report any changes in their lives and highlights the consequences of not doing so.

Similar campaigns in recent years have helped reduce the amount that benefit thieves stole from £2 billion in 2001 to around £0.9 billion last year. Investigators are using new powers, such as the right to check bank accounts and household bills, to come down hard on people who cheat the system.

Further information

Follow the link below to read more about the NO IFS, NO BUTS campaign.

• No Ifs, No Buts Opens new window

More from Directgov

• Changes that affect your benefit (money, tax and benefits section)

• Benefit fraud (money, tax and benefits section)