Millions seized from criminals to help communities tackle crime

GMP’s Economic Crime Unit has successfully forfeited over £17 million from criminal’s back pockets.

The funds have now been handed to organisations to help reduce, tackle and prevent crime across the region. 

Last year through police activity across the force, a total of £17,715,283.24 was seized and recovered from criminals and through the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS), a large proportion of money seized from criminals was given back to the community. 

GMP are aware that the offenders believe they can successfully hide their ill-gotten gains but the specialist teams in the Economic Crime Unit are working hard and know exactly how to find it, seize it and then legally recover the funds through the courts. 

Operation Falcon is a dedicated operation launched in May 2022 to tackle money laundering in a bid to disrupt wider organised crime in Greater Manchester.  

The cases are then passed to the Asset Detention and Recovery Unit. This team is made up of specialist officers and staff who conduct civil investigations that arise following these seizures. Using the balance of probability, officers need to have evidence to show that the money has been gained through the profits of crime. 

Once the money goes to court and the case is successful, the money is then legally recovered and will be used to benefit the communities throughout the force. 

GMP keep 50% of the money they recover to spend on community initiatives and the other 50% goes back to the Home Office. The money gained  is either used on community initiatives or within the force to further asset recovery work, or on policing operations that will be beneficial to keeping the local community safe from crime.   

Detective Superintendent Andrew Buckthorpe who leads GMP’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “In the last tax year we recovered the highest amount of criminal cash we have ever recovered in recent times and it really shows that the hard work from officers and staff in the unit and across the force is making a real difference in communities across Greater Manchester. 

“Just six hours into the new tax year, we started the year how we mean to go on with early morning warrants. On Tuesday morning, in Salford and Cheetham Hill, Economic Crime Unit officers were out causing disruption to those who we believe are blighting local communities. Two men were arrested on suspicion of money laundering and £50,000 cash along with an £80,0000 vehicle were seized following searches. 

“We are getting more money from criminals, and this money is being used for good in the communities we serve. Keeping the people of Greater Manchester safe from crime is our main priority, and this is a way we can give back, through officer’s hard work, we are in a really strong position where we continue to strip criminals of their finances which are often used to further crime in our communities. 

“These efforts are showing and it’s an important part of the justice system that those who benefit from the profits of crime get their finances stripped from them and aren't allowed to enjoy this money at the detriment of everyone else, and it’s even more satisfying to know that it is now being used for a good purpose.”