Criminal assets seized

More than £3.6 million has been seized from criminals in the past year as new legislation makes it easier for the Crown to seize assets.

The Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC said the Crown’s Proceeds of Crime and Civil Recovery teams had seized nearly £1 million more than at the same time last year.

Recent changes to the law mean restrictions - such as passport seizure, monthly repayment of criminal gains and a requirement to notify when a property is put up for sale - can now be imposed on criminals to ensure that assets are recovered.

From January new powers will mean money and assets that cannot be accounted for by individuals reasonably suspected of involvement in serious crime can be seized. The Lord Advocate said: “Law enforcement agencies will take robust action to remove criminal profits from those who benefit from them.”