GWENT Police will get nearly £400,000 of criminals’ money to help prevent crime, it has been revealed.
According to the latest figures, £1,636,711 was recovered by the force in 2010-11 as they seized everything from cars to homes from crooks.
And under a Home Office scheme that allows criminals’ ill-gotten gains to be used for the public good, £380,488 will be making its way into crime prevention projects and special operations.
Under the Home Office Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme, the released money will fund the likes of a hi-tech crime unit and Operation Prudent, which is committed to removing drug-dealers from the streets.
It will also go towards a financial crime unit – which would be key in seizing further assets and thus earning Gwent Police even more money.
Gwent Police’s Head of CID Chief Superintendent Ray Wise said: “Criminals benefit from the misery of other people and some flaunt the proceeds of their crimes.
“These people deserve to have their ill-gotten gains taken away, which is exactly what we are doing using powers granted to us in the Proceeds of Crime Act.
“We have found that a prison sentence can be viewed as an occupational hazard by some criminals.
“However, losing cash, cars, luxury homes and other assets under a court order is likely to have a much greater impact.”
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Simon Prince, Head of Operational Policing in Gwent, said their message to offenders was simple – crime does not pay.
“Gwent Police will pursue you through both the criminal and civil courts and any assets you may have will be taken from you,” he said.
“The force works closely with partner agencies to ensure that anyone making money through their offending will not only face conviction and possibly jail, but will also be prevented from enjoying the fruits of their criminality.
“Criminals can be sure that the force has highly-skilled financial investigators who will leave no stone unturned in tracking down the profits they have made from their illegal activities.”
Anyone wishing to pass on information should call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Source http://www.walesonline.co.uk/
No comments:
Post a Comment