Almost £10m taken from criminals

Crime doesn't pay thanks to Proceeds of Crime Act, says Lord Advocate

News, 8 May 2006

Almost £10 million has been taken back from criminals since the Proceeds of Crime Act was introduced in 2003.

Announcing the current total, the Lord Advocate Lord Boyd said that the Act has proved that crime does not pay.

Since 2003 a total of £9.9m has been recovered, including more than £4.8 million in the past year alone.

The Financial Crime Unit, which deals with the confiscation of the proceeds of crime following conviction, recouped £3.4 million from 92 confiscation orders against convicted drug dealers, money launderers and fraudsters during the past financial year.

In the same period, the courts ordered the recovery of £1.4 million following proceedings by the Civil Recovery Unit. This is money which the courts have concluded was the result of a variety of types of criminal activity. It includes profits from the sale of two Glasgow properties.

The Financial Crime Unit raised restraint proceedings in 175 cases in the year to 31 March. While these cases are still going through the courts, the total value of assets restrained is estimated at more than £16 million. As well as cash this includes Rolex watches, quad bikes and a half-share in a fishing vessel.

The Lord Advocate said: "Working closely with the police and other partner agencies our Civil Recovery and Financial Crime Units are targeting the profits of criminal activity at all levels in our communities.

"By taking this money away from criminals we are disrupting their ability to invest in future criminal activity. At the same time we are showing people in our communities that while a life of crime may have short term attractions, it will no longer be an easy way to make cash."

The money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act is invested in community projects aimed at alleviating the effects of crime.