West Midlands Police has seized more than £17 million from crooks in the last five years, latest figures have shown.
Financial investigators working in the Economic Crime Unit stripped a total of £17,026,411 – and 54 pence – from offenders since April 2012 under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
Just over £9 million was recovered from criminals such as drug dealers and fraudsters following court convictions, while the best part of £8 million was taken from suspects after they failed to prove they’d acquired the seized cash legitimately.
West Midlands Police retained around £6.5 million of the total with the Home Office, CPS and courts also receiving a share.
And the millions retained by West Midlands Police is ploughed into the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Active Citizens fund and spent on crime prevention or community projects. Detective Sergeant Adam Keen from the Economic Crime Unit, said:
“POCA is a really important police power: not just because it allows us to put much needed money into police projects but because it sends out a strong message that crime doesn’t pay. Criminals may think they can ride out their time in jail and their ill-gotten gains will still be waiting for them upon their release.
"Securing a conviction is just the start for us and we will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to ensure they cannot benefit from crime. We will always investigate people who have made money from crime; it’s hugely satisfying to seize their money or assets – including property, cars or valuables – and spend that money for the common good in communities.”
The five-year total is from 605 POCA Confiscation Orders – imposed by judges following criminal convictions – and 191 Forfeiture Orders after West Midlands Police applied to the courts to seize cash found in suspicious circumstances. Between April 2016 and March 2017 the force recovered £1,963,352 under POCA with another £733,579 still outstanding.
Any offenders refusing to pay up face extended spells behind bars. But the debt is never cancelled: it hangs over the person until it’s repaid and officers can recover cash and assets from them at any stage in the future. West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, who oversees the Active Citizens Fund, added:
“It sends a strong message that we are taking money off criminals and funding worthy causes through my Active Citizens Fund with the money.
“Using criminals' ill-gotten-gains we will be spending their loot to make communities safer.”
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