Nit questioned at Centrex
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• More than 1,600 mechanics throughout the country could be stripped of their qualifications after a fraud investigation at training provider Centrex.
The investigation relates to NVQs awarded through Centrex by the Road Transport Industry Training Board. It's alleged that trainees received bogus qualifications within weeks, rather than the 12-18 months normally needed for an NVQ. More than ,E5m of public money is involved.
Education and Employment Minister Kim Howells says: "Investigations have led the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to conclude that they have no confidence in the reliability of the awarding criteria applied in this case," Centrex has closed the Leeds office at the centre of the police investigation; several Centrex staff have been dismissed, including the senior operations officer at the company's Shropshire training headquarters.
Centrex spokesman David Dovey says: "We have been completely open about this."
Detective Inspector John Parkinson, who is heading the West Mercia Fraud Squad inquiry, confirms that seven former Centrex employees are on police bail after questioning. No charges are expected until well into the New Year.
The scandal has hit Centrex hard—the charity suffered al4m loss last year.
Within the industry training managers accept that Centrex seems to have been the victim of an inside scam, which has now been dealt with.