Assets seized from Suffolk criminals substantially up

21/11/2011

The Crown Prosecution Service in Suffolk is hitting criminals where it hurts - in their pockets.

In the last seven months, the CPS has been successful in seizing more than a million pounds in assets from individuals whove benefited from illegal activities.

That's already a quarter of a million pounds more than the amount seized for the whole of the previous year and means victims of crime are more likely to be compensated for their losses.

The figure is for this financial year, from April to October, and currently stands at £1,171,916. In the last financial year, from April 2010 to April 2011, the CPS seized assets valued at £888,240.

Ken Caley, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the East of England said: "It is absolutely vital that we pursue the assets of criminals across the East of England whove secured their wealth from illegal activities. Its morally and criminally wrong that anyone should financially benefit from the misery they inflict on others.

"We work alongside the police and the courts to identify cash or assets realised through crime. Once someone has been convicted of an offence, our specialists identify any criminal benefits and work to have them confiscated and the money realised can then be given back to victims.

"Our message is that crime doesnt pay and well continue to hit criminals where it hurts in their pockets."

On top of the money and assets already seized through the Proceeds of Crime Act, the CPS also has bank accounts containing millions of pounds currently frozen as prosecutors work to have the money confiscated.

Confiscation orders are served on criminals once they have been convicted and where they fail to voluntarily pay up, compulsory enforcement action can be taken and additional prison sentences imposed by the courts.

So far, across the CPS East of England Area which incorporates Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire the Service has seized assets worth £2,231,729.