Criminals are living it up at our expense – Why should they?
North Yorkshire Police is launching the 2012 Why should they? campaign today (21 September 2012) with another £25,000 of criminals’ cash up for grabs.
The Police media release reads, “This is the third year in a row that the force has made the cash available to local good causes, having seized it from crooks who have made money from their crimes.
Between Friday 21 September and 31 October 2012, non-profit making organisations, charities, volunteer and community groups whose work makes a positive contribution to reducing crime or anti-social behaviour can apply for up to £3,000 from the fund.
The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) allows the police to take money and assets from criminals such as drug dealers, fraudsters and thieves if they have gained them as result of their criminal activity.
Over the last two financial years, North Yorkshire Police’s Financial Investigation Unit seized more than £2.3m from criminals under POCA. Some of this money is returned to North Yorkshire Police and other criminal justice partners, and it is by using some of this cash that the Why should they? campaign can help local communities.