Criminals forced to pay back ?2.5million of their ill-gotten gains
Convicted crooks have learned crime doesn't pay after they were forced to pay back more than GBP2.5 million of their ill-gotten gains this year. West Midlands Police's team of financial investigators have successfully clawed back millions in 'dirty money' from criminals after their convictions. Officers obtained 140 confiscation or forfeiture orders through the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) in 2023.
These court orders are used to show how crooks, such as fraudsters or those involved in drug dealing, have benefitted from their crimes which can be in terms of cash, property or other investments. If they don't pay up they receive extended prison sentences, although the debt never goes away and officers are able to recover what is owed in the future. Detective Inspector Lauren Ades, from our economic crime unit (ECU), said: "Our department work tirelessly to ensure that offenders are not able to benefit financially from their criminal activity. We work alongside our colleagues dealing with the criminal prosecutions to secure as much evidence as possible to recover as much 'dirty money' as possible. "The money recovered from these investigations is reinvested in government, CPS and the police to continue providing a service to the public and to invest in community projects." This includes compensating victims or helping communities under the Police & Crime Commissioner's Active Citizen's Fund. Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp[2] West Midlands Police[3] and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: "It is important that crime does not pay. That is why I welcome the work of the economic crime unit, who put that principle into practice. There is no better way to invest proceeds of crime, than back into the criminal justice system and the communities that have been victims of crime. "In particular, my Helping Communities Fund supports community projects that contribute to crime prevention and reduction and community safety across the West Midlands."References