The Proceeds of Crime Act continues to reap rewards as a staggering £21m has been secured since the Act came into force, the Lord Advocate, The Right Honourable Elish Angiolini QC, announced today ahead of the next meeting of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce.

In the past year alone, the Civil Recovery Unit has recovered £2,700,455, the largest amount recovered by the unit in one year.  In Tayside alone, court orders secured £321,185.

In the same period, prosecutors have secured confiscation orders worth £2,847,037.

The Lord Advocate said,

“Anyone looking to fund their lifestyle from crime should take note.  The latest figures show we are taking the equivalent of £54,000 each week from convicted criminals, and over £25,000 a week from cash seizures.

“The police, prosecutors and other agencies are making increasing use of the powers available to them under the Act.  This is why, year on year, we continue to pursue the assets and profits from crime to inflict long-term damage not only on serious criminal organisations but also on those who profit from crime, by removing substantial assets gained as a result of criminality.”

Since 2003 a total of £21,044,009 has been secured under the Proceeds of Crime Act, including more than £5.5m in the past year alone.

The Civil Recovery Unit has recovered over £2.7m in the past year. Over £1.3m of this is in cash seizures alone.  This is money, the courts have concluded, was the result of a variety of types of criminal activity.

The National Casework Division, in Crown Office, deals with the confiscation of the proceeds of crime following conviction.  It has secured £2.8m during the past financial year.