HAMPSHIRE fire chiefs have given the green light to plans to bring in private detectives to check up on workers suspected of moonlighting.

The plans, as exclusively revealed in The Gazette, will also target firefighters repeatedly taking "sickies" or retiring on false medical grounds.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer John Bonney told the fire authority's personnel committee that investigators would be used sparingly and could act as a deterrent to fraudsters.

He said: "This is not about covert operations or infringing on people's personal liberties. It's more about the service protecting itself from fraudulent claims and protecting its interests. We would not engage private investigators lightly.

"I would certainly want to see material evidence that there is reasonable expectation that some sort of fraud is taking place. It will be applicable where we have reasonable suspicion that a person is deceiving the authority."

He added: "The vast majority of our staff, I would say 99.9 per cent, come to work and do an excellent job and are 100 per cent committed."

A report put before the committee said: "In a limited number of cases there may be evidence to suggest that a person may be defrauding the authority. Through surveillance or external investigation sufficient evidence may be uncovered of a criminal nature either to pass the matter to the police or, at the very least, robustly reject a claim against the authority."

Brigade spokesman Mike Gates said the proposals had not been sparked by any particular incident and added that many employers had taken similar steps.