Record year as police recover over £600,000

Police have recovered a record £649,709 of criminal assets within the Dyfed-Powys force area, it has been revealed.

The force's Financial Crime Team recovered the money through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 whereby law enforcement agencies can apply to courts to recover money that has been obtained as a result of criminal conduct.

“Significant confiscation orders have been made at the Crown Court in relation to a variety of criminal offences,” said Detective Chief Inspector Greg Williams. “Orders for £234,000 and £90,000 were made in respect of individuals convicted for the commercial cultivation of cannabis, an order for £22,000 was made in respect of an individual convicted for a series of jewellery burglaries and an £18,000 order was made in respect of an individual convicted  for trafficking drugs.

“Other offences have included rogue trader offences where a £5,000 order was made in respect of a convicted individual, a £13,000 order for counterfeit currency offences and a £163,000 order which was made against a couple who defrauded the citizen’s advice bureau in Ammanford. Victims of crime are often compensated from these awards and if the defendants do not satisfy the orders they have to serve additional time in prison in default.

“The value of financial investigation, however, goes further than just net receipts. It is a cost effective form of policing, and the investigative tools provided by the legislation have been embraced by Dyfed Powys Investigators and are utilised in many aspects of mainstream policing. Dyfed Powys Police is committed to ensuring that wherever possible criminals are brought to justice and where appropriate are stripped of their assets and any benefit from criminality. Victims of crime are recompensed, and any money returned to the Force under the Incentivisation Scheme is used for the benefit of appropriate community initiatives.”

To date thanks to the Incentivisation Scheme, Dyfed-Powys Police has funded 70 community projects across the four local authority areas. These include funding towards a Domestic Abuse charity, funding for a Sea Cadets group to allow wider access and encourage participation, funding to support the development of a skateboard park and funding to purchase sport equipment for the benefit of local young.