£640,000 crimes cash seized by Staffordshire police

More than £600,000 in cash has been seized from the bank accounts of suspected criminals in Staffordshire, it was revealed today.

The force's police authority currently has money sitting in a fund that is made up of cash from people whose assets have been seized.

Should those who have money in the account be found guilty of criminal offences, they will never see a penny of it again.

In total, £640,000 is held in the police account thanks to the powerful Proceeds of Crime Act legislation.

Last year, the force used the powers to recover assets worth £1.7 million.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Clews, head of Staf-fordshire Police's Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said today: "Many of the people we target are involved in serious and organised crime – including drug supply and fraud – and confiscation orders are a great tool to strip offenders of their assets.

"Criminals' money is ploughed back into the fight against drugs – through Operation Nemesis – and is helping turn youngsters' lives around through community initiatives."

Cash from the fund is partly used to help pay for community schemes and initiatives. Among those targeted using the powerful legislation was Staffordshire drug dealer Ronald Finn-egan, who was ordered to cough up £20,000.

The 46-year-old, of Wyre Close, Walsall Wood, was jailed for 54 months in March last year and was later forced to hand over money he pocketed as a result of dealing drugs.

Meanwhile fraudster Paul Cope, who was last year jailed for five-and-a-half years for his role in a £28 million fraud, was ordered to pay back £400,000.

The 46-year-old, of Hyde Lea, Stafford, lived a lavish lifestyle on the back of leasing and mortgage cons. He owned a villa in Marbella, several business premises, and luxury cars.

Maureen Shea, from West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service, said: "The CPS is committed to working with Staffordshire Police to ensure that we take the profit out of crime."

By Crime Correspondent Shaun Jepson