News and Events
See other news stories£17m to fight crime from seized assets
8 April 2008
Police forces across England and Wales will receive millions of pounds seized from criminals, and use that money to fight crime.
The money was confiscated under the asset recovery scheme, which requires the Home Office to invest 50% of all money seized back into front-line agencies.
As a total of £34 million was recovered between October and December 2007, this means that police, along with prosecutors, courts, and other public agencies, will share £17 million.
A weapon against crime
Seizing assets has been found to be an excellent anti-crime tool, taking away the reason people commit crimes in the first place.
In 2007, the government reached its goal of recovering £125 million from criminals - five times more than the amount seized five years ago.
The programme has been so successful that police powers to seize assets are being expanded.
New powers to stop criminal gain
New powers will include:
- the right to seize high-value goods from offenders when they are arrested - before they have chance to disperse them
- widening the kind of assets liable for seizure
- removing the current 12 year time limit on seizures
Sending a clear message
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said seizing criminals’ assets 'sends a clear message to criminals that crime does not pay', and that profiting from crime will not be tolerated.'
'I am determined to stop criminals profiting from the crimes that affect the lives of the law-abiding majority,' he added.
He said more assets will be seized in the coming years. 'I have committed to recovering £250 million a year by 2009-10.‘
A combined effort
Mick Creedon, of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), said, 'This is obviously excellent news, and performance across the police service continues to improve year on year. We have yet again improved the amount of cash seized.
'We must thank our partners in other agencies throughout the criminal justice process, as we continue to work closely with them at both a national and local level - this is a combined effort.'
He added that police were working hard to improve their abilities to identify and seize criminal assets, and are producing new guidelines for police working in the field.
Police intend to ensure that in as any many cases as possible criminals are unable to profit from their crimes, and funds are seized before they can be used to finance illegal activity.
‘The Proceeds of Crime legislation is one of the key tools we can use to reduce crime,' he said.
