ASSETS RECOVERY AGENCY FREEZES OVER HALF MILLION OF ASSETS
1 Feb 2005 08:45 AM
The Assets Recovery Agency has restrained over 648,000 of assets.
The Agency contends that property held by Andrew Pickering of
Middlesbrough - 8 houses, 2 vehicles and contents from his luxury
home - has been obtained as a result of unlawful conduct linked to
drug trafficking.
The High Court in London granted ARA an Interim Receiving Order for
648,372 on Friday 28 January. The property involved includes:
* Mr Pickering's luxury 4-bedroomed home
* 7 other residential properties
* a 46,500 BMW M3 convertible
* contents from his half million pound house including
high-specification electrical goods
* 3 bank accounts
The Agency satisfied the Court that there is a good arguable case
that Andrew John Pickering is holding assets that were acquired as a
result of unlawful activity. The Interim Receiving Order ensures that
he cannot dispose of the assets whilst investigations continue.
Two cars registered in the name of Karen Berry, who is not implicated
in criminality, have also been restrained.
Jane Earl, Director of the Agency said "We are committed to using our
powers to ensure that crime doesn't pay. Taking criminal assets out
of circulation means less money on the streets to fund criminal
activity. This case was referred to us by Cleveland Police and is
yet another good example of the joined-up fight against crime."
The Interim Receiver, who is an independent officer of the Court,
will submit a report to the Court in due course. If that report shows
that assets represent the proceeds of crime, the Agency will apply
for a Civil Recovery Order.
Note for Editors:
1. The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 created the Assets Recovery Agency
and provided completely new powers to allow ARA to seek civil
recovery of the proceeds of unlawful activity by an action in the
High Court. The Agency can also issue tax assessments where there are
reasonable grounds to suspect that there is taxable income, gain or
profit from criminal conduct.
2. The Agency is playing its part in the multi-agency approach to
deliver the Government's Asset Recovery Strategy. Under the cross
government initiative 'Payback', the tracing of and recovery of
assets is seen as an important element in the delivery of justice,
and sends out a strong deterrent message. The overall aims of the
strategy are to make greater use of the investigations of criminal
assets in the fight against crime; recover money that has been made
from crime or which is intended for use in crime; prevent criminals
and their associates from laundering the proceeds of criminal
conduct, and detect and penalise such laundering where it occurs; to
use the proceeds recovered for the benefit of the community.
3. The High Court case number is CO/384/2005.
4. Photographs of Mr Pickering's luxury home and of the hot tub in
his garden are available on the GNN website.
Assets Recovery Agency, PO Box 39992
London EC4M 7XQ
T +44 (0)20 7029 5700
F +44 (0)20 7029 5706
E enquiries@ara.gsi.gov.uk www.assetsrecovery.gov.uk