The Met Police has seized a record \u00a394.6m from criminals in London in the past year.<\/p>\n
An increase in the use of confiscation orders in 2017-18 saw the total cash seized rise 40% from \u00a367m in 2016-17.<\/p>\n
One high-profile order saw the four ringleaders behind the Hatton Garden heist ordered to pay back more than \u00a36m each.<\/p>\n
Det Supt Nick Stevens, head of the criminal finance team, said: “We want to make sure that crime doesn’t pay.”<\/p>\n
Confiscation orders are made after a court conviction to deprive criminals of the benefits of their crimes.<\/p>\n
Orders secured by the Met increased by 164% from \u00a320.9m in 2016-17 to \u00a355.4m in 2017-18.<\/p>\n
Four Hatton Garden raiders were each\u00a0told to pay back more than \u00a36m or face another seven years in jail.<\/a><\/p>\n The order was one of the biggest in the Met’s history, the force said.<\/p>\n Det Supt Stevens said: “The asset seizures are making a significant impact on criminality at all levels, from those engaged in gang and violent crime right through to high end organised criminal networks.<\/p>\n “We want to make sure that crime doesn’t pay and will use all legislation available to us to recover money and assets obtained by criminals.”<\/p>\n Money forfeited and confiscated by the Met is paid to the Home Office, which returns a percentage back to the force.<\/p>\n The previous record total seized by the force in 12 months was \u00a373m in 2015-16.<\/p>\n Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"