The Pensions Regulator is to prosecute a national recruitment firm, its directors and some of its senior staff, on the suspicion that they illegally opted employees out of their pension scheme.

Workchain Ltd (formerly known as Smart Recruitment UK Ltd) is accused of logging into its workplace pension scheme’s online system and using employees’ personal details, to terminate their membership of the scheme.

The alleged activity is contrary to the terms of use of the system, which requires employees to opt out themselves.

If convicted those accused could face up to two years in prison and an unlimited fine.

In a first for TPR, those charged with unauthorised access to a computer programme, contrary to section 1(1) of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 are:

• Workchain Ltd, which has its head office in Stephensons Way, Derby, Derbyshire
• Director Phil Tong, 40, of Spend Lane, Ashbourne, Derbyshire
• Director Adam Hinkley, 39, of Shardlow Road, Alvaston, Derbyshire
• Hannah Armson, 34, of Heath Lane, Findern, Derbyshire
• Lisa Coy, 33, of Marylebone Crescent, Mackworth, Derbyshire
• Martin West, 31, of Jackson Road, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire
• Robert Tomlinson, 38, of Crosby Close, Forest Town, Nottinghamshire
• Andrew Thorpe, 33, of Thorpe Street, Burntwood, Staffordshire

The defendants are due to appear at Derby Magistrates’ Court on 7 June.