UK: Criminal proceeds used to fund police
The UK Home Office has announced that police forces across England and Wales are to receive a GDP6 million cash boost from assets seized from criminals,
One of the stated objectives of proceeds confiscation in several countries is to make at least a proportion going to policing - and in the case of drugs, for anti-narcotics schemes including education.
Criminal assets confiscated by police forces and other asset recovery agencies between April and June 2008 totalled GDP28.6 million, GDP14.3m of which is to be shared between police, prosecutors and courts. A total of GDP5.97 million will be given to police forces in England and Wales, compared with GDP3.71million paid out in the same quarter last year.
Since the Proceeds of Crime Act came into effect in 2003, GDP497 million has been seized. An incentive scheme introduced in 2006 allows the police and recovery agencies to retain half of all cash they seize from criminals.
Mick Creedon, Chief Constable of Derbyshire Constabulary and Association of Chief Police Officers lead on Asset Recovery said: "The public are quite rightly sick and tired of seeing criminals leading lavish lifestyles without challenge and all forces across England and Wales are determined to respond to this and make full use of the available powers granted under the Proceeds of Crime Act and other legislation."
A total of GBP135.7 million was recovered in the financial year 2007-8, GBP125.36 million 2006-7, GBP97.3million 2005-6, GBP84.0 million in 2004-5 and GBP54.5 million in 2003-4.
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