Greater Manchester Police recovers record £18m from criminals to reinvest in communities
Police in Greater Manchester have recovered a record £18 million from criminals over the past year, with a portion of the funds set to be reinvested back into local communities.
Figures released by Greater Manchester Police show that its Economic and Cyber Crime Unit seized £18,150,322.56 through Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) proceedings. The money was recovered from a range of offenders, including drug dealers, fraudsters and organised crime groups operating across the region.
Officers carried out more than 850 POCA hearings during the year, targeting criminal finances and stripping offenders of assets believed to be linked to illegal activity. Items seized included large sums of cash as well as high-value assets such as gold.
A significant portion of the recovered funds will now be redirected into community projects through the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS), which allows money taken from criminals to be used for public benefit across Greater Manchester.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Buckthorpe, who leads the unit, said the record figure reflects the determination of officers across the force. He added that removing criminal profits not only disrupts offending but also ensures money is returned to communities.
Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson described the results as “outstanding,” highlighting the force’s continued efforts to tackle financial crime and reinvest proceeds into policing and community initiatives.
Among the notable cases over the past year:
- Gold bars worth £1.8 million were seized at Manchester Airport after a passenger was stopped attempting to take them abroad.
- More than £135,000 was recovered following a vehicle stop on the M62.
- A convicted drug offender was ordered to repay over £138,000.
- Fraud cases saw hundreds of thousands of pounds returned or ordered for compensation to victims.
Under ARIS rules, around half of recovered cash is reinvested locally, while the remainder is returned to the Home Office. Funds are used to support community safety projects, policing operations and further asset recovery work.
Police say the approach will continue as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt organised crime and prevent offenders from benefiting financially from illegal activity.
