§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total value of assets and illegal gains confiscated from criminals is since the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 came into effect. [126510]
§ Caroline FlintThe confiscation powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 are triggered by offences committed after the provisions were brought into force on 24 March 2003, so it will be a while before cases are dealt with by the Crown Court in numbers. To date, two confiscation orders with a value of £53,000 have been made against convicted offenders in England and Wales. The value of cash seizures made under the new provisions in the Act which came into effect on 30 December 2002, and which are not dependent upon a conviction, is £28.5 million. In addition, the Assets Recovery Agency has obtained freezing orders from the High Court in London and Belfast on five civil recovery cases with a total value of £5.9 million.