Lancashire Police seize £6million in cash and criminal assets

Jul 2 2009 by Gemma Jaleel, Ormskirk Advertiser

POLICE in Lancashire have seized more than £6million in cash and criminal assets over the last year.

The figures, announced by the Home Office, show Lancashire Constabulary secured 87 confiscation orders to the value of £5,753,770 and obtained 100 forfeiture orders worth £983,225 between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009.

Much of the money goes back to victims of crime or to fund further financial investigations.

The money was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act, making 2008 one of the Constabulary’s most successful years ever.

Last week, we reported how Paul Burton, 39, of Egerton in Skelmersdale had over £30,000 in cash seized from his house.

He said the cash was from the importation of tobacco from the continent and from his building firm but failed to provide documentation to support this.

The Proceeds of Crime Act (PoCA) 2002 has given police powers to strip criminals of assets acquired through crime.

Under the Home Office incentivisation scheme 50% of money forfeited is retained by the Home Office and the remaining 50% distributed between the police force which seia, Crown Prosecution Service and the Court Services.

The Home Office have also announced that communities across the country, including residents in Lancashire, will be able to bid for proceeds of crime money through a new national ‘Cash Back’ initiative.

£4 million of the £148 million recovered nationally has been set aside for a new community fund whereby people can vote for projects in their area up to £95,000 through the Lancashire Criminal Justice Board.

Detective Inspector Steve Ashurst, head of Lancashire Constabulary’s Proceeds of Crime Unit, added: “It is important that people tell us about the individuals that they know about who are committing crime and living off the proceeds.

“If anyone does have any information they should either speak with a police officer or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”