Lothian criminals stripped of £3m

Published on Thursday 2 July 2009 10:09

MORE than £3 million in cash and assets including houses and luxury cars has been seized from criminals in the Lothians in the last six years, new figures revealed today.

Bank accounts, insurance policies and property are among items that have been confiscated from drug dealers and criminals.

The cash has been transferred to the Scottish Government to fund projects such as youth sports, mobile CCTV police vans and anti-drug dealing campaigns.

Major dealers in heroin and cocaine have been targeted in the Capital, alongside thieves involved in serious crimes.

Between April last year and March, a total of 206,000 was recovered from criminals convicted of offences in court.

Another 254,000 in cash was seized by the Civil Recovery Unit (CRU) under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The Act allows confiscations to be made from individuals without the need for a criminal conviction if they cannot prove it was acquired legitimately.

More than 550,000 has been recovered despite the lack of a conviction since April 2003 in Lothian and Borders.

Seizing assets from suspected criminals, such as property and cars, has proved more difficult, with a total of 278,000 worth of forfeits.

Over the past six years more than 3.1m has been seized from criminals in the force area.

Lothians Tory MSP Gavin Brown said: "There are positive steps being taken in the recovery of money from serious criminals and that is very welcome.

"However, it is clear that a lot needs to be done when it comes to the seizure of other assets. In four of the last six years, not a single non-cash asset was seized."

Detectives say they are targeting drug dealers who live "lavishly as their neighbours struggled to make ends meet", such as buying expensive vehicles and designer clothes.

Officers work to compile detailed information on potential cash and assets which can be handed to prosecutors to mount seizure attempts.

A Crown Office spokeswoman said: "This has disrupted both individual and serious and organised crime in the area, demonstrating that those who seek to prosper from the harm and hardship they inflict on others, whether directly or indirectly, will not succeed.

"Of particular note, in 2008-9, the CRU once again broke its record for the amount recovered in Lothian and Borders during a 12-month period."

A police spokesman said: "People who profit from illegal activity generally do so at the expense of communities. We target the profits of their criminal activity and that includes everything from drug dealing or complex frauds.

"Through the Proceeds of Crime Act, we are able to target offenders where they feel it most – their pockets."