GMP seized more than £11m from criminals

The force said that following a number of successful forfeitures, it’s dedicated Economic Crime Unit has successfully recovered £11,242,753 since the start of the tax year.

The init made up of a number of specialist teams which target different areas of criminal finances to ensure that all their funds are removed.

The announcement comes after a record-breaking year for the Economic Crime Unit which recovered £13.7m in the previous tax year.

And GMP says the unit is in a good position to continue this success and break more records later this year.

Cash seizures from Operation Falcon. Photo: GMP (Image: GMP)

More than £5m of the total sum comes from the Account Freezing Order Team (AFO).

By conducting civil investigations, the team freeze suspected criminal funds in bank accounts, and these are then forfeited at court.

An additional £3.5m was found from the Asset Detention and Recovery Unit (ADRU) who won the Annual Chief's Award for Team of the Year in 2021.

The team deal with the seizures of cash and listed assets by conducting civil investigations following seizures of cash and assets by other teams in the Economic Crime Unit.

They work with a view to forfeiting seized cash and assets which are then invested back into the community.

Operation Falcon designer goods seizure by GMP's Money Laundering Team. Photo: GMP (Image: GMP)

And another £2m came from the Confiscation and Restrain Unit, which is made up of financial investigators who restrain assets such as houses and then seek confiscation orders after criminal conviction.

The Money Laundering Team conduct proactive and reactive investigations and following arrests the money makes its way to the ADRU and AFO teams who secure the illicit finances through convictions in court.

Operation Falcon created in May 2022 is GMP's specific operation in response to cash couriers.

Concealed cash in a Nike shoe box. Photo: GMP (Image: GMP)

These are seizures conducted by the Money Laundering Team which are ultimately confiscated to contribute towards the money recovered.

Almost half of the money forfeited from criminals and suspected offenders returns to GMP through the Asset Recovery Incentive Scheme (ARIS), a Home Office led programme.

The money is re-invested into community programmes and charities across Greater Manchester, as well as funding policing programmes and operations to continue fighting crime.

Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop, who leads the Economic Crime Unit, said: “As a team we continue to create more innovative ways to recover criminal assets and GMP is one of the leading forces in the UK for seizing and recovering criminal funding.

“Just under half of the money is returned to GMP through the Home Office ARIS funding scheme which is used to fund local initiatives and charities - this shows that the money recovered is used to benefit the communities across Greater Manchester.

“We have a number of highly skilled police officers and staff across a number of teams that make up the Economic Crime Unit, who collectively use a variety of options available under the Proceeds of Crime Act, including cash seizure powers, listed asset powers (such as seizing high value jewellery, watches and artwork) and bank account freezing orders.

“However well-hidden the cash and assets are – we will seize, recover and forfeit criminal funds to ensure that the money is not used to further serious and violent criminality in Greater Manchester.

“Let this be a stark reminder to anyone who believes that they can use illegitimate finances to fund their criminality – we will find it, forfeit it and reinvest that money back into the communities across Greater Manchester.

“Stripping criminals of their finances has a substantial impact on crime – I hope this figure serves as a reminder that tackling economic crime is a relentless task – our teams will continue to work diligently behind the scenes to ensure that those involved in criminal behaviour are brought to justice and pay the price for their crimes.”

“If you see, or suspect something is wrong, tell us, and we can sort it."

Anyone with concerns or information about suspicious financial activity, should report to police online, if able, at www.gmp.police.uk or via 101.

Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

For fraud prevention advice and to keep up to date with the Economic Crime Unit’s latest news - follow @gmpfraud on Twitter.