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The Asset Detention and Recovery Unit, part of GMP’s Economic and Cyber Crime Unit have forfeited over £3 million this tax year consisting of criminal funds following a forfeiture of over 300k at Tameside Magistrates court today (Tuesday 6 December).
The Asset Detention and Recovery Unit deal with the seizure of all cash and listed assets for example watches, cash and precious metals by conducting civil investigations that arise following these seizures with a view to forfeiting the assets at court.
The team work on the balance of probability where they prove through a thorough civil investigation that the money seized comes from or is intended to be used for crime. This ensures that the money seized does not get returned to criminals to spend in organised crime networks and further violence in Greater Manchester. The money we successfully forfeit is sent to the Home Office and through ARIS, GMP get just under 50% back to fund community projects and policing initiatives.
Drugs and cash seized
Where does the money come from?
Cash found in shoe boxes
Where does the money go?
Through the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme run by the Home Office, part of the funds recovered by the Economic Crime Unit will be returned to Greater Manchester Police, to help pay for further asset recovery work and to fund community projects.
Some of the projects include:
Non-profits which benefit a large number of people can apply for a maximum of £20,000 to fund 12 months’ activities. The activities must support GMP’s objectives to fight, prevent and reduce crime; keep people safe; and care for victims.
Detective Sergeant Sarah Langley of GMP’s Asset Detention and Recovery Unit said: “Although we're very pleased with this result, the fight to strip criminals of their finances doesn’t stop here. My team will continue to work diligently behind the scenes to remove criminal proceeds from the hands of those who seek to profit from criminality. By using all powers available to us through the Proceeds of Crime Act allows us to successfully disrupt criminal networks by targeting them where it hurts the most – their pockets”
Detective Superintendent Joseph Harrop of the Economic and Cyber Crime Unit, who is the Force Lead for Asset Recovery said: “This latest milestone demonstrates how, in line with our public promises, we will seize more assets from criminals. We continue to focus on forfeiting criminal assets to utilise their finances for a much better purpose.
“I would like to reassure the public that any information reported to us is dealt with in complete confidence and will be followed up meticulously. I would like to thank the public for their ongoing support in sharing information with our unit which helps us successfully disrupt criminal networks.”
Anyone with concerns or information about suspicious financial activity, should report to police online, if able, at www.gmp.police.uk or via 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.
Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Keep up to date with the team’s successes and for more fraud prevention advice follow the Economic Crime Unit’s dedicated Twitter account -@gmpfraud.