£26m seized from crooks pumped back into the fight against crime

Between October and December this year, assets and cash worth more than £52 million were taken from crooks.
 
Police forces across England and Wales will now receive nearly £8 million through the asset recovery scheme.
 
Since the Proceeds of Crime Act came into effect in 2003 more than £650 million of criminal cash and assets have been confiscated.
 
Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said:
 
"We are determined to use every power possible to crack down on criminals, whether they are small-time crooks or organised criminal gangs.
 
"The asset recovery scheme deprives crooks of their ill-gotten gains and gives extra funding to the fight against crime."
 
Half the £52.46 million seized between October and December 2009 goes to crime fighting, with the money split between police, prosecutors, courts and other agencies.

The Prime Minister also announced earlier this month that, for the second year running, £4 million worth of sized assets will be used to pay for worthwhile community projects as nominated by members of the public under the Community Cashback scheme.