Home Office figures show £285million was seized from criminals in the past year, while compensation paid to crime victims went up by 165% in a year
Millions of pounds seized from criminals are being spent on border security, new data shows.
And compensation paid to crime victims has shot up by 165% in a year, after a crackdown on dirty money. Authorities seized £285million from criminals, with £50million paid out to those impacted. The Home Office said cash taken from crooks is being reinvested in frontline policing and border security.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: “This year’s recovery of nearly £300 million in criminal assets, together with an unprecedented increase in funds returned to victims, stands as proof of our unwavering determination to ensure that crime doesn’t pay.” He said every pound recovered “goes back into our communities”.
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Among these is funding the Multi Agency Cash Cell at the border, disrupting the flow of crooked cash into the country. In the past year, the Cell seized £7 million in cash and a further £4 million in assets, including gold and luxury watches.
Latest data shows £174million of criminal funds was invested back to the frontlines – a 55% increase on the previous year. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) alone recovered £16 million and seized £12 million from criminals last year.
Half of this cash channelled to community projects designed to reduce, tackle, and prevent crime across the region. In the past week, £1.1 million was secured from the sale of a Lake District house in an investigation involving its first use of an Unexplained Wealth Order.
The recovered funds will be returned to the Treasury and be reinvested into public services. Nick Ephgrave QPM, director of the Serious Fraud Office, said: “The SFO has secured over £500 million in the last five years, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring those who engage in serious fraud and corruption do not benefit from their crimes.
“Our recent success in securing the SFO’s first Unexplained Wealth Order shows that we are using every available tool to target and recover criminal assets.”
The Government said drug dealers and fraudsters were the most likely to have their money confiscated.
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