£34m criminal assets seized in NI

Over £34 million worth of criminal assets have been restrained or frozen in Northern Ireland over the last year.

Security Minister Paul Goggins and Chair of the Organised Crime Task Force today congratulated the agencies in Northern Ireland who were responsible for restraining or freezing the assets.

He was speaking following the publication of a Northern Ireland Assets Recovery Action Plan which sets out the steps that agencies in Northern Ireland will take during 2007/08 to seize the assets of criminals and remove the proceeds of crime.

“This is a tremendous achievement. Taking this money out of the control of criminals or those suspected of criminal activity means it can no longer be used to sponsor further criminality or fund the lavish lifestyles that are beyond the dreams of most hard working people,” he said.

“Organised criminals have one aim to make money. By removing their profits we can strike at the very heart of their activity.

“Good as this result is, we believe much more can be achieved and the government through the OCTF partner agencies is determined that there will be no let up in the fight against organised crime.’

Mr Goggins concluded: “We have had an excellent record at restraining criminal assets but need to make further improvements in the recovery of these. The 13 Action Points in the Plan outlines the steps to be taken to develop and enhance our performance.”

This is the first time that the OCTF has published an Action Plan specifically about criminal finance and assets. It complements the Home Office Asset Recovery Action Plan launched earlier today which sets out how government plans to remove £250m of criminal assets across England, Wales and Northern Ireland by 2009/10.

The Home Office Plan also consults on a range of proposals, initiatives and ideas to further improve performance in this area.

(JM/SP)