Police have recovered millions of pounds of illegal assets

The West Yorkshire force alone seized �5.4m of assets from criminals in the year to April 2003 under new powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

And since April it has recovered cash and property worth �3.3m, according to data from the Assets Recovery Agency, an independent body which became operational in February.

Of that total, it has secured 25 cash seizures worth more than �500,000, the largest amount of any force in England and Wales outside London's Metropolitan Police.

Minister defiant

South Yorkshire police have so far confiscated around �500,000 of ill-gotten gains, North Yorkshire has seized more than �300,000 and Humberside Police have retrieved almost �265,000 this year.

Home Office minister Caroline Flint said: "A strong message is being sent out to criminals in Yorkshire and the Humber - we will seize, freeze, confiscate or tax any profits made from crime.

"We are beginning to hit criminals where it hurts - in their pockets."

We have shown a continued determination to pursue criminals and seize cash piles built on the misery of crime victims John Sampson, assistant chief constable West Yorkshire Police

West Yorkshire Police assistant chief constable John Sampson said: "Criminals who make a vast profit from their activities cannot be allowed to get away with it.

"In West Yorkshire, we have shown a continued determination to pursue criminals and seize cash piles built on the misery of crime victims."

Detective sergeant Andy Rooksby, of South Yorkshire Police's financial investigation unit, said: "We will strive to ensure that criminal wealth is removed from those who benefit from crime in the county."

Recovered assets are being ploughed back into funding Home Office initiatives on crime reduction.

Money has so far been awarded to projects in Calderdale, Wakefield, South Yorkshire, Hull and the East Riding.