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Money recovered under Proceeds of Crime Act
06/06/2007
More than £6 million has been recovered from convicted criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act in the past year, Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini QC announced today.
She said:
"The Proceeds of Crime Act was designed to show criminals that crime does not pay. The latest figures send a strong message: we will track down illegal assets and we will deprive criminals of their cash and possessions."
"Working closely with the police and other enforcement agencies the Civil Recovery Unit and the National Casework Division are targeting the profits of criminal activity at all levels in our communities, from the street dealers and cash couriers to those who commit complex frauds.
"Crime is a business for some people and no business can operate without resources and a steady cash flow. The Proceeds of Crime Act is allowing us to tackle those who try to profit from illegal activity."
Since 2003 a total of £15.5 million has been secured from criminals.
The National Casework Division, in Crown Office, deals with the confiscation of the proceeds of crime following conviction. It has secured £4.4 million from convicted drug dealers, money launderers and fraudsters during the past financial year.
In the same period the courts ordered the recovery of £1.7 million following proceedings by the Civil Recovery Unit. Over £1 million of this is in cash recoveries alone. This is money which the courts have concluded was the result of a variety of types of criminal activity.
Money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act, up to a maximum of £17m a year, is invested by Scottish Ministers in community projects aimed at alleviating the effects of crime. If more than £17m is recovered in any financial year the balance is sent to the UK Treasury.
The National Casework Division and Civil Recovery units work with colleagues at the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency, UK Police Forces and HM Revenue and Customs to identify and recover the proceeds of crime.
The total amount secured is made up of £4,424,313 from criminals convicted of related offences; £1,200,427 from cash seizures, and £496,215 from recovery orders granted by the civil courts.
Breakdown of Figures - Nation Casework Division
- 2003-2004: Total amount of confiscation orders: £1,494,365
- 2004-2005: Total amount of confiscation orders: £1,347,599
- 2005-2006: Total amount of confiscation orders: £3,469,739
- 2006-2007: Total amount of confiscation orders: £4,424,313
- Total: £10,736,016
Years are financial years (April 1 to March 31)
Breakdown of Figures - Civil Recovery Unit
| Year | Cash | Seizures | Total |
|---|
| 2003-2004 | £23,986 | £672,824 | £696,810 |
| 2004-2005 | £203,408 | £797,839 | £1,001,247 |
| 2005-2006 | £761,602 | £604,200 | £1,365,802 |
| 2006-2007 | £496,215 | £1,200,427 | £1,696,642 |
| Totals | £1,485,211 | £3,275,290 | £4,760,501 |