Councils stamp out criminal lifestyle

Councils across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are using the full force of the law to help stamp out the lavish lifestyles of many criminals.

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), trained officers can become `accredited financial investigators’ to help ensure those benefiting from crime pay back what they owe to society.

Depending on the level of involvement, the Home Office Incentivisation Scheme allows councils to recover up to 37.5 per cent of the confiscated assets, with the remainder being distributed between HM Court Service and central government. This money is usually reinvested by councils back into undertaking enforcement work such as:
*tackling benefit fraudsters
*dealing with counterfeit goods
*tackling serial fly tippers and other environmental crime
*tackling loan sharks

Councils are also reinvested the funds to help improve local areas and have installed park regeneration schemes, anti-graffiti projects and youth clubs. All designed to improve the local environment and reduce crime.

Cllr Paul Bettison, chairman of Local Government Regulation (formerly LACORS), said:
“The Proceeds of Crime Act is a valuable crime busting tool for councils. With any crime someone always suffers the consequences. Why should those who believe they are above the law be able to fund their lavish lifestyles at the expense of others?

“Whether it’s selling harmful counterfeit goods, damaging the environment, exploiting vulnerable tenants or charging outrageous amounts of loan interest to people at the end of their financial tether, it simply won’t be tolerated by councils.“