Crime cash paid back to public (From Warrington Guardian)

Crime cash paid back to public

2:50pm Sunday 5th July 2009

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MORE than £160,000 connected with crime was forfeited by magistrates on Friday, to be partly put back into the public purse.

Warrington Magistrates’ Court heard the cash was seized by officers in two separate hauls – including one of more than £80,000 last December 11 when officers discovered the sum in the back of a car parked at Gemini Retail Park.

Three men were arrested and bailed, denying any knowledge of the money.

DC Victoria Tait, a specialist accredited financial investigator, said: “The two cases on Friday were the biggest we’ve had and between them pulled in more money than all of last year.”

Cheshire Police’s Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) is responsible for recovering proceeds of crime and the cash crimes team mainly investigates fraud, drug dealing, handling stolen goods and money laundering.

FIU officers trace and identify cash and assets such as houses, cars and timeshares believed to be illicitly gained, conducting enquiries across the UK, internationally and with various government bodies.

The FIU then works with the Crown Prosecution Service to freeze accounts and confiscate these funds often leading to criminals being forced to sell their asserts as well as forfeit cash seized.

In cases dealt by the northern area FIU, between April 2008 and 2009 £31,213.99 was forfeited by Warrington Magistrates’ Court on the balance of probabilities the seized cash was related to criminal activity.

A further £55,958.88 was confiscated by judges at Warrington Crown Court from criminals convicted of acquisitive crimes who were found to have benefited by almost £625,000 from their crimes.

DC Tait added: “We look into what assets they have that can be realised and a court order will be made for that amount and if they don’t repay it within the given time they are eligible for a prison sentence.

“Because proceeds of crime is a civil matter and done on the balance of probabilities the onus is on them to prove it’s not gained from ill-gotten means and they have a lengthy amount of time to respond.

“We don’t need someone to be found guilty or have to prove their crime to seize money but we will assist the criminal investigation with evidence such as excessive amounts of money going through their bank accounts and intelligence they are living beyond their means.

“This is a powerful piece of legislation and offenders will fight harder for their cash than their liberty.”

Anyone found with £1,000 in cash in their home, car or on the street can have the money seized on the spot if police consider it is connected with crime.

Katie Morris, also an accredited financial investigator, said bank accounts dating back up to six years can be investigated.

She said: “We need to know exactly where the money has come from and can detain it for a considerable amount of time through orders at the magistrates’ court while we conduct our investigations, which can take two years.

“If we feel it’s clearly linked to criminal conduct we can apply immediately for forfeiture but if at any stage we find the money has come from a legitimate source we’ll return it straight away.”

Last year 20 per cent of cash seized was returned but since the new financial year began no money has yet been given back.

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