Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

CROWN OFFICE AND PROCURATOR FISCAL SERVICE

NEWS RELEASE

2 June 2009

LATEST POCA FIGURES SHOW CRIME DOES NOT PAY, SAYS LORD ADVOCATE

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Civil Recovery Unit secured more than £6 million in the last year under proceeds of crime legislation the Lord Advocate, the Right Honourable Elish Angiolini QC announced today.

The Lord Advocate said the latest figures send a clear and unambiguous message to those who seek to profit from crime that they run a serious risk of their assets being seized by the courts.

The Lord Advocate said:

"Our message is clear. Let these figures be a warning that those who seek to profit from crime will be caught and prosecuted and will lose the material or financial benefits gained through their crimes. By seizing their cash and their assets, we will stop them in their tracks to ensure their future livelihoods are restricted far beyond any sentence they may face.

"The Proceeds of Crime legislation has played a significant role in disrupting both individual and serious and organised crime in Scotland. Nobody should succeed in their endeavours to benefit from the harm and hardship they inflict on others, whether directly or indirectly. Yet again, these latest figures demonstrate that both Prosecutors and the Civil Recovery Unit are striving to ensure that they do not.

"We will continue to work hard, using the powers given to us by the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, to ensure that crime will not pay."

For the sixth year running, the Civil Recovery Unit broke its record for the amount recovered in one year, with a total of £2,823,533 being recovered, of which £2,033,378 was in cash forfeitures alone. This is money which the courts have concluded was acquired as a result of a variety of criminal activity.

During the same period, prosecutors secured 78 confiscation orders worth £3,508,548 against convicted drug dealers, money launderers and fraudsters.

The total amount recovered since the Act came into force six years ago now stands at more than £27 million.

This announcement coincides with the launch today [2 June 2009] of a major, new Scottish Government drive which aims to stamp out Serious and Organised Crime across Scotland.

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. The total amount secured through the Proceeds of Crime Act in the 12 month period from 1 April to 31 March 2009 is made up of £3,508,548 from criminals convicted of relevant offences and £2,823,533.36 from cash forfeitures and asset recovery orders granted by the civil courts. Further details are provided in the tables below.

2. The total secured since commencement of the Act in March 2003 and 31 March 2009 is £27,376,091. This consists of £17,091,601 from the National Casework Division and £10,284,490 from the Civil Recovery Unit.

a. The National Casework Division deals with the confiscation of proceeds of crime following conviction and secures money from convicted criminals ie those who have been convicted of drug dealing, money laundering, or fraud.

b. The Civil Recovery Unit investigates and recovers the proceeds of crime through the civil courts without the need for criminal conviction.

3. Regional case studies including photographs of assets recovered are available upon request from Crown Office Communications.

4. Money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act, up to a maximum of £17m a year, is invested by Scottish Ministers in community projects aimed at alleviating the effects of crime. If more than £17m is recovered in any financial year the balance is sent to the UK Treasury. Part of the money has been reinvested in COPFS.

5. 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.

6.
Breakdown of Figures - National Casework Division:

Note: The years are financial years (1 April to 31 March)

7.
National Casework Division, Breakdown of Figures by Reporting Agency

2.
Breakdown of Figures - Civil Recovery Unit

Note: The years are financial years (1 April to 31 March)

3. The Proceeds of Crime Figures are prepared in advance of each quarterly meeting of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce which brings together 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.

Contact: Communications 0844 561 4263

Internet:
www.copfs.gov.uk