Thirty Three People Arrested and over £40,000 Cash Seized During POCA Week of Action.

Tuesday, 16th October, 2012

Thirty-three people have been arrested over the last week after being targeted under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). They were arrested throughout the week for offences including possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, money laundering, theft and immigration offences.

Thirty-nine search warrants were executed across the Force and £41,150 in cash was seized. Officers also seized heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine and MCAT along with drugs paraphernalia. Other assets seized were counterfeit cigarettes, a stun gun, high value cars, mountain bikes, a television and mobile phones.

The Week of Action ran from 8th - 12th October and saw Officers from the Economic Crime Unit (ECU) working with NPTs, POCA teams and Officers from the Operational Support Department.

Divisional breakdown:

Bradford District:

8 arrests

4 search warrants executed

£35,000 cash seized

Heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine seized.

Leeds :

14 arrests

22 search warrants executed

Cannabis, heroin, crack cocaine and drugs paraphernalia seized

Cash, stun gun, counterfeit cigarettes, mountain bikes, laptops, car, television and mobile phones seized.

Wakefield:

3 arrests

1 search warrant executed

4 addresses visited

Cannabis and amphetamine seized

Cash seized.

Calderdale:

2 arrests

1 search warrant executed

High value vehicles seized

Kirklees:

3 arrests

3 search warrants executed

Cannabis and MCAT seized.

Crime Division:

3 arrests

8 search warrants executed

£6000 cash seized.

Superintendent Dean Henson - of West Yorkshire Police's Economic Crime Unit - said: "This has been a successful week in which Officers from all divisions have worked together with those from Crime Division to take people suspected of crime off the streets.

"I hope it acts as a warning to anyone living off the proceeds of crime that we will do everything in our power to track you down, arrest you and seize any assets. We will then use those assets to fund community projects or to enable us to carry out further operations targeting criminals."

As part of the POCA activity, West Yorkshire residents are invited to go online and take part in a live web chat about how communities are benefitting from money removed from criminals.

From 7pm this Thursday (18^th October) a senior detective and financial investigators from West Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit will be logging on to answer questions about the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Acting Detective Inspector Andy Howard and a Financial Investigation Manager will be on hand to explain how we are taking assets from criminals, what we do with the money and seized items and also what powers the police have.

This is the first time a specialist department from West Yorkshire Police has taken part in an online discussion such as this.

Click on this link to take part in the web chat http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/POCADiscussion and if you enter your email address you will be sent a reminder when the discussion is about to begin.

Why should criminals get away with living off the proceeds of crime? If you tell us we will take action. If you have any information call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit www.westyorkshire.police.uk/whyshouldthey