Criminal cash ploughed back into community projects through ARIS

The Economic Crime Unit at Greater Manchester Police successfully claimed back more than £17m from criminals in the last financial year.

That money is ploughed back into community and policing projects through the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) to support the objectives to fight, prevent and reduce crime; keep people safe; and care for victims.

The work is ongoing as we continue to deprive criminals of their ill-gotten gains – this year convicted drug dealer Lee Whiteley was ordered to pay back more than £200,000 and Umair Zaheer, the ringleader of a nationwide drugs and firearms conspiracy, ordered to pay £350,000.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Buckthorpe who leads GMP’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “The last tax year saw GMP recover the highest-ever amount of criminal cash and it shows that the hard work from officers and staff in the unit and across the force is making a real difference in communities across Greater Manchester.

“The money claimed back from criminal proceeds is being used for good in the communities we serve.

“It is fitting that the money we seize from proceeds of crime is being used to help fight, prevent and reduce crime, keep people safe, and care for victims, which ultimately makes Greater Manchester a better place to live, work and visit.

“Keeping the people of Greater Manchester safe from crime is our main priority, and this is a way we can give back, through officers’ hard work, we are in a really strong position where we continue to strip criminals of their finances which are often used to further crime in our communities.”

Among previous successful bidders is Child Safety Media, who put on the Crucial Crew safety sessions for youngsters across Greater Manchester.

Over the past 12 months, Child Safety Media have been awarded £45,000 to co-ordinate the sessions attended by around 16,000 children.

GMP officers help present the workshops in venues including schools across the force area that look at issues like personal safety, crime prevention, Internet safety, cyber-crime, knife crime, rail safety, anti-social behaviour, crime and its consequences and road safety.

Child Safety Media’ s director, Dan Lowrie, said: “This is partnership working at its very best and it is our privilege to work together on a local project where all participating agencies are committed to protecting our vulnerable young people from harm.

“On behalf of Child Safety Media, I would like to thank GMP in particular for also providing the vital ARIS funding, for without it this ‘Crucial Crew’ child safety programme would not have been possible.

“This initiative complements our philosophy of utilising partnerships to promote health, safety and community responsibility. 

“Children and young people are a valued part of our society and our intention is to continue to keep them safe, involved and reassured.”

Another group to benefit from GMP’s ARIS funding is Chadderton Football Club, who successfully applied for £72,000 as part of a larger project to install a new artificial pitch.

In recent years we also funded GetAway’N’GetSafe – a project that uses sessions delivered via schools to encourage young people to turn away from a life of crime and inspire them to take control of their futures and achieve their dreams – and Cheetwood Community Primary School in Cheetham Hill to update and improve their playground.

GMP has just conducted its latest round of community bids with the successful projects soon to be notified and is hoping for another round of funding in 2026.

Since 2023, we have given more than £1.5m to groups across the region.

Non-profit organisations which benefit a large number of people can apply for a maximum of £20,000 to fund 12 months’ activities.

To find out more on the GMP ARIS scheme, there is more information on our website.