Community Cash Back Scheme

The Home Office has announced that a new pilot fund was launched in June 2009 to give local people a direct say on how seized criminal property can be used to benefit communities.

The £4m Community Cash back scheme will be funded by money and assets seized. The public will be able to choose which community projects are funded by feeding in their views to a new dedicated website, neighbourhood policing meetings or through Citizens Panels.

Until now money recovered from criminals has been split between frontline services, such as the police and Government departments involved with the criminal justice system. This is the first time a portion of that money is being paid back into communities.

Proceeds of Crime

Home Office figures show the value of assets recovered from criminals this year has risen to an all time high of £148m for 08/09. This is up from last year’s £136m.

The figures also show that a total £23.6m recovered between January and April 2009 will be paid back to frontline services, with a total £7m to be shared between all police forces in England and Wales.

The Community Cash back Fund is a pilot scheme for 09/10 - a decision will be made later in the financial year on how best to take this commitment forward.