Criminals' money spent on community

Drug dealers' money is now funding drug clinics

Confiscated criminal assets have raised nearly £3m to be spent on community projects across England and Wales.

Ministers announced on Friday where cash from the Recovered Assets Fund (RAF) would be redirected.

Among the 19 crime-reduction projects to benefit are a domestic violence awareness campaign, a drug treatment clinic and the development of a street wardens scheme.

The cash comes from seizing assets such as homes, bank accounts, cars and even, in some cases, racehorses.

Some projects funded

South Bucks: £220,000 for drug clinic

South Yorks: £624,000 for anti-crime scheme

Calderdale: £93,000 for street wardens

Swansea: £33,000 to trap car thieves

North Wales: £15,000 for shop radios to combat theft

The south-east and Yorkshire received the lion's share - more than £1m each from a total pot of £2.8m.

It is the second distribution of RAF grants following a £250,000 announcement when the fund was set up in October 2001.

Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth said: "I would like to offer my congratulations to the successful bidders and look forward to following their progress over the next few months as their various initiatives take shape."

The government has pledged to increase the value of criminal assets seized to £60m a year by 2004-05.

On Wednesday, a law which increases seizure powers, the Proceeds of Crime Bill, completed its passage through Parliament.

Greater powers

This established a new Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) to sue suspected criminals in the civil courts.

It enables the authorities to recover alleged crime proceeds, including houses, cars, jewellery, cash and gifts to friends and relatives.

Before, they could only confiscate the proceeds of offences for which a defendant was convicted.

The ARA will only have to prove wealth is generated by a "criminal lifestyle" and not a specific crime.

Because cases will be heard in the civil courts, cases must only be proved "on the balance of probabilities".

A total of 130 bids were received for the RAF grants and the next round of spending will be in September.