WIREDGOV

Cashback from crooks as millions in seized assets pay communities back

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 15 October 2009

Communities across the country are today benefiting as ill gotten gains confiscated from crooks are used to fund worthwhile community projects, Home Secretary Alan Johnson announced today.

The £4 million Community Cashback scheme gives local people a direct say on how criminal assets are spent in the fight against crime and antisocial behaviour. The new scheme is funded by cash and assets seized from criminals.

More than 45,000 votes were received from members of the public for 1,225 community projects via a dedicated website, neighbourhood policing meetings and through Citizens’ Panels. A total of 269 projects will receive a share of the fund with work now beginning on the first projects.

Schemes benefiting include:

* renovating a burnt out skate park near Brighton;
* funding for the Young People Against Knife Crime project to visit schools in Merseyside;
* renovating a derelict BMX track in Rochdale;
* opening a cricket club for young people in Newcastle; and
* restoring a derelict churchyard around a community centre in an industrial area of Sheffield.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said:
"Community Cashback not only strips criminals of their ill-gotten gains but uses them to improve life in the very neighbourhoods their activities have blighted.
“And now for the first time we are giving the public a real say in how those assets are used to benefit their local areas, including providing additional support in the fight against crime. Alongside orange jackets and public voting for Community Payback, it shows people that the justice system is there to work for them - not for those who break the law."
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:
“It is only right that criminals are made to pay back for their crimes. The Community Cashback fund ensures some of their ill gotten gains are ploughed back into local communities.
“Seizing assets deprives criminals of money, reduces the incentive for crime and promotes fairness and confidence in the criminal justice system. I’m glad so many people have got involved either by putting forward plans to improve their neighbourhoods or voting for their favourite project.”

The Government's Crime and Justice Adviser Louise Casey said:

“The public should have a say on how cash from criminals is spent in their community. This sends a strong message to the public that the criminal justice system cares about what they think and is on their side. This in turn might encourage more members of the public to help in the fight against crime - to pick up the phone to report a crime, stand up in court to give evidence and support others to do the same.

“The message behind Community Cashback is simple – the public must have a stronger voice in the criminal justice system – after all, it operates on their behalf and must have their backing.”

Justice Minister Maria Eagle said:

“Community Cashback is just one way of providing communities with a stronger voice and better access to shaping the criminal justice system, and follows up on other successful initiatives including Community Payback, Community Prosecutors and restorative justice programmes. All of this aims to ensure that justice is not only done, but seen to be done."

The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, said:

“What better way could there be to send a clear message that crime does not pay than for victims and witnesses, and young people especially, to see a tangible improvement in their communities?

“To put in place something they have asked for, paid for with money recovered from criminals, is a visual reminder of the millions that are clawed back from criminals in our courts.”

Each project has to help tackle antisocial or criminal behaviour locally and show the community had made it clear this was something they wanted to see.

Until now money recovered from criminals has been split between frontline services, such as the police, and Government departments involved with the criminal justice system. This is the first time communities can influence how that money is spent.

Home Office figures show the value of assets recovered from criminals in 08/09 rose to an all time high of £148 million. This is up from £136 million recovered in 07/08.

The Community Cashback Fund is a pilot scheme for 09/10. A decision will be made later in the financial year on how best to take this commitment forward.

NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Details of the projects which are being funded through Community Cashback can be found at http://cashback.cjsonline.gov.uk from 9.30am on Thursday 15 October. You can also contact the Home Office Newsdesk on 020 7035 3535 for a copy of the list.

2. The fund from criminal assets is being taken out of money usually allocated to the Home Office (£2m); Ministry of Justice/HMCS (£0.5m); HMRC/ACPO/SOCA (£0.75m); AGO/CPS/RCPO/SFO (£0.75m)

3. A list of all Local Criminal Justice Boards can be found at http://lcjb.cjsonline.gov.uk/

4. Criminal Justice and Treasury Ministers have previously agreed that communities should be given more control in how asset recovery money is spent locally. This commitment was set out in the Engaging Communities in Criminal Justice Green Paper published on 29 April 2009.

5. For further details on recovered assets paid back to individual police forces please go to http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/crimereduction049.htm

6. The Office for Criminal Justice Reform is the cross-departmental team that supports all criminal justice agencies in working together to provide an improved service to the public.

7. For further information please contact David Langton in the Home Office Press Office or Newsdesk on 020 7035 3535 david.langton@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Contacts:

NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the above department
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Home Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7035 3535
NDS.HO@coi.gsi.gov.uk