Criminal assets under threat
The Government body responsible for seizing the assets of criminals is expanding its capacity.
The Assets Recovery Agency is recruiting more financial investigators and legal staff, director Jane Earl said today as the agency published its annual report and business plan for the coming year.
This will enable it to increase the cases it adopts for investigation by more than 200 per cent compared to April 2004.
It comes after the agency missed its £10 million recovery target, due to legal challenges that caused delays to finalising cases.
The agency achieved recovery orders to the value of £5.5 million and restrained assets worth £16.8 million last year.
“We are sorry that we have not achieved the full £10 million recovery target, but as more of the legal challenges are defeated, and as we unblock other impediments to speed, we are committed to doing everything possible to meet all targets,” Ms Earl added.
