Defendants are due to appear in court today accused of illegally opting employees out of workplace pensions.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has brought the prosecution against national recruitment firm Workchain Ltd (formerly known as Smart Recruitment UK Ltd), its directors and some senior staff.

They will appear at Derby Magistrates Court this afternoon.

The firm and staff are 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 was 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 case continues.

An expert has expressed scepticism over whether a planned rise in auto-enrolment contributions will actually take place in April next year.

New research by wealth management firm Tilney has revealed many people’s retirement preparations are in disarray with nearly one in five UK adults admitting they have lost track of at least one pension pot.

The ONS has reported that almost three quarters of employees now contribute to some form of workplace pension.