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24/02/2003
Assets Recovery Agency targets criminal profits
Criminals will no longer be able to enjoy a "champagne lifestyle" funded with dirty money made at the expense of the victims of organised crime.
The new Assets Recovery Agency, which became operational today, is armed with an array of powers to seize, investigate, and recover assets and other wealth obtained as a result of illegal activities.
Former PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan, who faces the additional challenge of dealing with paramilitaries, heads the Northern Ireland bureau of the Agency. Working with the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise, and the Serious Fraud Office the Agency will track down profits from illegal activities.
The Agency is able to take civil action to recover the proceeds of unlawful activity and to tax any individual or company where there are "reasonable grounds to suspect" they have gained financially from crime. Currently staffed with 70 full-time experts throughout the UK, the Agency is set to expand by more than a quarter by March, with this rapid growth due to continue for at least two years.
At the launch today, Jane Earl, Director of the Assets Recovery Agency, said: "I became Director of the Assets Recovery Agency because I want to contribute personally to lowering the crime rates in this country. Our work – in seizing assets that have been accumulated unlawfully - will be an integral part of the Government’s overall crime reduction strategy. I look forward to receiving cases from our law enforcement partner organisations and to working with them to help reduce crime in communities up and down the country."
The Agency’s crackdown on criminals’ assets will be supported by a new Taskforce to make sure that criminals subject to existing confiscation orders pay up in full – £1.3 million has already been netted since the Taskforce began work in December 2002;
New laws tightening up on money laundering, which come into force today, require financial institutions to report all transactions where there are ‘reasonable grounds’ to know or suspect money laundering.
The Irish Republic already has a similar agency, the Criminal Assets Bureau, and its operation was used as a model fro the setting up of the new agency.
(SP)
The new Assets Recovery Agency, which became operational today, is armed with an array of powers to seize, investigate, and recover assets and other wealth obtained as a result of illegal activities.
Former PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan, who faces the additional challenge of dealing with paramilitaries, heads the Northern Ireland bureau of the Agency. Working with the Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise, and the Serious Fraud Office the Agency will track down profits from illegal activities.
The Agency is able to take civil action to recover the proceeds of unlawful activity and to tax any individual or company where there are "reasonable grounds to suspect" they have gained financially from crime. Currently staffed with 70 full-time experts throughout the UK, the Agency is set to expand by more than a quarter by March, with this rapid growth due to continue for at least two years.
At the launch today, Jane Earl, Director of the Assets Recovery Agency, said: "I became Director of the Assets Recovery Agency because I want to contribute personally to lowering the crime rates in this country. Our work – in seizing assets that have been accumulated unlawfully - will be an integral part of the Government’s overall crime reduction strategy. I look forward to receiving cases from our law enforcement partner organisations and to working with them to help reduce crime in communities up and down the country."
The Agency’s crackdown on criminals’ assets will be supported by a new Taskforce to make sure that criminals subject to existing confiscation orders pay up in full – £1.3 million has already been netted since the Taskforce began work in December 2002;
New laws tightening up on money laundering, which come into force today, require financial institutions to report all transactions where there are ‘reasonable grounds’ to know or suspect money laundering.
The Irish Republic already has a similar agency, the Criminal Assets Bureau, and its operation was used as a model fro the setting up of the new agency.
(SP)
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22 October 2004
Assets Recovery Agency freezes NI companies' assets
The Assets Recovery Agency has frozen more than £300,000 worth of assets from three registered Northern Ireland companies, and others in England and Spain. The agency also secured High Court orders against three members of one family from the Carrickfergus area named as Albert, Jessica and Paul Baxter.
Assets Recovery Agency freezes NI companies' assets
The Assets Recovery Agency has frozen more than £300,000 worth of assets from three registered Northern Ireland companies, and others in England and Spain. The agency also secured High Court orders against three members of one family from the Carrickfergus area named as Albert, Jessica and Paul Baxter.
19 June 2008
Cross Border Team To Tackle Fuel Faudsters
Law enforcement agencies from both Northern Ireland and the Republic are to establish a new cross-border group to tackle fuel fraud. The joining of forces will provide a new approach to combat the multi-million pound illegal business.
Cross Border Team To Tackle Fuel Faudsters
Law enforcement agencies from both Northern Ireland and the Republic are to establish a new cross-border group to tackle fuel fraud. The joining of forces will provide a new approach to combat the multi-million pound illegal business.
29 January 2003
Community must 'play its part' in tackling organised crime
NIO Minister Des Browne has urged the public to "play their part" in tackling the scourge of organised crime. Mr Browne made his comments at a meeting of local business people and elected representatives in Ballymena as part of an awareness evening organised by The Organised Crime Task Force.
Community must 'play its part' in tackling organised crime
NIO Minister Des Browne has urged the public to "play their part" in tackling the scourge of organised crime. Mr Browne made his comments at a meeting of local business people and elected representatives in Ballymena as part of an awareness evening organised by The Organised Crime Task Force.
14 January 2004
Kennedy briefs Interpol on work of OCTF
Organised crime and terrorism go hand in hand and do not recognise international boundaries, and must be confronted wherever it operates. This was the message from Security Minister, Jane Kennedy during a visit to Interpol Headquarters in Lyon, France after an invitation from Secretary General of Interpol, Ron Noble.
Kennedy briefs Interpol on work of OCTF
Organised crime and terrorism go hand in hand and do not recognise international boundaries, and must be confronted wherever it operates. This was the message from Security Minister, Jane Kennedy during a visit to Interpol Headquarters in Lyon, France after an invitation from Secretary General of Interpol, Ron Noble.
25 November 2004
House sale ensures crime does not pay - Pearson
The home of a murdered loyalist paramilitary leader which was seized by the Assets Recovery Agency has been auctioned for £410,000. The auction of Jim Johnston's house follows September’s High Court order to seize the cash and property assets worth more than £1 million from the former drug dealer.
House sale ensures crime does not pay - Pearson
The home of a murdered loyalist paramilitary leader which was seized by the Assets Recovery Agency has been auctioned for £410,000. The auction of Jim Johnston's house follows September’s High Court order to seize the cash and property assets worth more than £1 million from the former drug dealer.
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