But if fraudsters get on the books under false identities, they may prove harder to budge: Mr Hearnden and his colleagues will no longer be able to nab them at the post office counter.

ECONOMIST: Benefits fraud

And if you're going to save money by taking services online, that will mean ending some "offline" services - so prepare for the backlash when taxpayers are told they can no longer file their returns via the post, or get a road tax disc at the Post Office.

BBC: Open government - in tune with the Zeitgeist?