Criminal profits dented by �5.5m

The ARA aims to take the profit out of organised crime

Criminals have been ordered to give up �5.5m in ill-gotten gains by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) in its second year attacking organised crime profits.

But the agency had hoped the figure would be �13m and so far only �4.6m has been paid, its annual report reveals.

Its chiefs say they are disappointed but pleased to exceed other targets.

The agency took on 86 cases, disrupted 36 criminal enterprises and put �16.8m of assets under restraint, stopping criminals disposing of them.

ARA'S PROGRESS 2004-05 36 criminal enterprises disrupted, target 35 86 cases adopted, target 55 �16.8m assets under restraint, target �15m �5.5m recovery orders, target �13m �4.6m receipts collected, target �10m

The ARA, set up under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) as the first national agency dedicated to recovering cash and property from criminals, published its annual report and business plan for 2005-06 on Monday.

Its powers include financial investigation, confiscation of criminal's property or cash, recovering property through the civil courts without a conviction, and taxation of criminal profits.

The money recovered goes to the Home Office to be shared out between the various agencies involved in asset recovery.

Reducing crime

Adrian Brenton, the agency's director of operations, said: "Whilst we are pleased that we exceeded most of our targets for 2004-05 - we adopted more cases and disrupted more criminal enterprises through early restraint - we are naturally disappointed that we did not hit our targets in respect of the value of orders or money in the bank.

ARA MILESTONES 2004-05 June 2004 First criminal confiscation order handed to Victor Cheng July 2004 Search and seizure powers used in England and Wales for first time August 2004 First fully completed case (full payment) approx �25,000 September 2004 First �1m civil recovery order on the estate of the late James Herbert Johnston December 2004 ARA receives first tax settlement January 2005 First appeal decision in England and Wales that civil recovery proceedings were compliant with the European Court of Human Rights and civil not criminal February 2005 First Proceeds of Crime Act restraint order

"The main aim of the agency is to reduce crime and make communities safer and not to raise revenue.

"We will continue to adopt and investigate a mixed case-load of varying values taking into consideration the potential impact on crime reduction."

'Stretching targets'

The ARA is also responsible for training financial investigators at its Financial Centre of Excellence.

It has delivered 76 courses and provided a total of 142 places for Regional Asset Recovery Teams and other agencies employees.

The agency has set itself even steeper objectives for 2005-06 including obtaining orders to confiscate assets totalling �15.5m, and to increase that amount by at least 5% every year thereafter.

"We are in a good position to reach the stretching targets we have agreed," Mr Brenton said.

"We constantly monitor progress towards our targets to ensure that all appropriate steps are being taken to deliver reduction in crime, to provide value for money and to promote the use of POCA powers to make sure crime does not pay."

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