North Yorkshire Police officers with a seized vehicle
Two rescue teams will benefit from criminals’ activities under police scheme to ensure crime doesn’t pay.
North Yorkshire Police’s Why Should They campaign has resulted in grants to Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team and Cleveland Search and Rescue Team from cash and assets seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The Scarborough team will use its £1,800 grant to replace redundant radio handsets. The Great Ayton-based Cleveland rescuers will use their £1,936 for the purchase of essential water rescue equipment.
Community groups were invited to apply for a share of the £24,000 worth of cash seized from criminals. Under the act, police now have the powers to apply to the courts to confiscate criminal assets such as houses, cash, jewellery and cars which have been obtained through criminal activities.
The scheme was developed by North Yorkshire Police and the North Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Madgwick, who has responsibility for the financial investigation unit, the department responsible for confiscating criminals’ money in North Yorkshire, said: “The response to the campaign has been tremendous with over 200 bids for cash, well in excess of our expectations.
“The fact that this money has been taken from criminals and is now going back to our local communities gives us great satisfaction. Our only disappointment is that we could not give money to everyone.
“The recipients of the awards give their time freely, from helping and improving the lives of people in the community, to risking their own lives to save others.
“It has been a very humbling experience to see the extent of voluntary and community work being carried out across North Yorkshire and it gives us great pleasure to announce the winning bids.”
Dyfed Foulkes, chairman of North Yorkshire Local Criminal Justice Board, added: “We have been bowled over by the scope and extent of the work being undertaken by local groups and charities across North Yorkshire as evidenced by the fantastic response to our campaign. The judging panel certainly had their work cut out.
“On behalf of the board I congratulate the successful bidders, and wish them well as they put the ill-gotten gains of criminal activity to much better use than was ever intended.”
Applicants for the grants had to demonstrate they could deliver the schemes by the end of the year and that they would have a lasting impact for the community.
