Millions of pounds in criminal cash and assets confiscated by police

GMP collected proceeds of crime worth £5.7m in 2018-19, according to the latest Home Office data, which includes dirty money, goods and property.

Of this, £4.2m – 73 per cent – came from confiscation orders, which take place following a criminal conviction but will be started before sentencing.

The remainder came from powers to seize cash in civil proceedings. The haul was lower than the value seized when records began in 2013-14, when officers recovered £6.9m.

Just under £217m was collected by police forces, councils and government agencies across England, Wales and Northern Ireland using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act – up 21 per cent over the five-year period.

Dirty cash forfeited in civil proceedings accounted for a record £51m, with a further £166m confiscated following criminal convictions.

Since 2013, they have taken more than £1bn out of criminals’ hands.

Security minister Brandon Lewis credited the Government with “having a real impact” on stripping crooks of their “ill-gotten gains”.

He said: “This money is being ploughed back into law enforcement work and compensating victims. Last year, victims were paid £36m – which was a 27 per cent increase on 2013-14.

“The new National Economic Crime Centre is harnessing intelligence and capabilities across the public and private sectors to bring people to justice.

And our asset recovery action plan makes plain our ambition to improve these figures further and claw back even more dirty money.”

Tougher anti-corruption measures came into force last year to stem the tide of laundered cash flooding the UK.

They include Unexplained Wealth Orders, demanding a person or company explain where their money came from, and powers to freeze funds.