A man from the Sandwell area of the Black Country has been arrested on suspicion of evading income tax following an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
The man is believed to be a self-employed plumber who has allegedly failed to declare his earnings for the past six years.

Investigations to uncover the exact amount of the fraud are now underway.

The arrest follows the announcement earlier this year that the HMRC is taking robust action to clampdown on plumbers, gas fitters, heating engineers and other trades people who fail to declare their earnings and pay the correct tax.

Adrian Farley, assistant director of criminal investigation for HMRC, said: 'As well as stealing from the nation's public finances these individuals also gain an unfair tax advantage over their business competitors. We will not hesitate to investigate those we suspect of committing this fraud and ask anyone with information about individuals who may be involved in tax evasion to contact the Tax Evasion Hotline on 0800 788 887.'

One residential property was searched and investigations are ongoing. The man was arrested on suspicion of the Evasion of Income Tax, contrary to the Taxes Management Act 1970. He is currently being questioned at a local police station.