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Latest 'proceeds of crime' figures
29/10/2007
Over £2 million has been secured from criminals in the first six months of this financial year, using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act, the Lord Advocate has announced.
Prosecutors secured confiscation orders worth £1,167,782 and restrained approximately £10.5 million worth of assets from convicted and alleged drug dealers, money launderers and fraudsters during the first six months of this financial year.
In the same period the courts ordered the recovery of £839,386 following proceedings by the Civil Recovery Unit. Over £650,000 of this is in cash recoveries alone. This is money which the courts have concluded was the result of various types of criminal activity.
Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini QC said:
"Year on year we continue to use the Proceeds of Crime Act to disrupt criminal activity at every level.
"The Act strips individuals of profits from criminal activity and stops them from moving money around or freeing up money through the sale of assets, and ultimately helps put criminals out of business.
"All of us who are involved in tackling crime, and especially serious and organised crime, will continue to use the full extent of the law to ensure that those who would seek to profit from crime, whether they are street corner drug dealers, high level drug barons, or people who commit "white collar" crime, will not succeed."
Since 2003 over £17.5 million has been secured through the courts, either following a criminal conviction, or a decision by a court that the cash or assets could only have been accrued by illegal means.
Money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act, up to a maximum of £17 million a year, is invested by Scottish Ministers in community projects aimed at alleviating the effects of crime.
The National Casework Division in Crown Office deals with the confiscation of the proceeds of crime following conviction.
The Civil Recovery Unit, which was formed as a result of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, can recover money from those suspected to have profited from crime or money which was intended for use in crime.
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.
A Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce has recently been established. The new body, which is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and includes the Lord Advocate, ACPOS, the SCDEA, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, the Scottish Prison Service and the Scottish Government, will provide strategic direction and co-ordination for all the organisations fighting serious organised crime in Scotland.
The total amount secured is made up of £1,167,782 from criminals convicted of related offences; £653,763 from cash seizures, and £185,623 from recovery orders granted by the civil courts.
Breakdown of Figures for the National Casework Division:
Total amount of confiscation orders
- 2003-2004 - £1,494,365
- 2004-2005 - £1,347,599
- 2005-2006 - £3,469,739
- 2006-2007 - £4,424,313
- Apr-Sep 2007 - £1,167,782
- Total - £11,903,798
The years are financial years (April 1 to March 31)
Breakdown of Figures for the Civil Recovery Unit
Total amount of civil recovery orders and cash seizures
- 2003-2004 - £696,810
- 2004-2005 - £1,001,247
- 2005-2006 - £1,365,802
- 2006-2007 - £1,696,642
- Apr-Sep 2007 - £839,386
- Total - £5,599,887