Criminals confiscated Assets go on sale just in time for Christmas

[caption id="attachment_877" align="alignright" width="300"] Confiscated items on sale; Cheshire Police Ebay site (Pic: Lisa Jones)[/caption]

WITH money at the heart of all organised crime, Cheshire police are more determined than ever to part criminals from profit.

A new scheme created by police will bring money back into the community by selling items which have been confiscated from criminals.

So far 27 items are up for grabs on the Cheshire police Ebay, the cash raised from these online auctions will go back to the Home Office, with Cheshire Constabulary receiving 18 per cent of the proceeds.

So far, over £20,000 has been raised by selling items such as digital cameras, laptop computers and mobile phones, which has then been reinvested into policing Cheshire.

The scheme has been former as part of the Court ‘Confiscation’ Order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).

To view current auctions visit http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/cheshirepolice/

Karen Jaundrill, Detective Sergeant of the Financial Investigation Unit said: “The purpose of POCA is to deprive a convicted criminal of any financial benefit they have made through their crimes. POCA empowers convicted criminals to sell their assets in order to pay off their confiscation order. These goods are authentic but have been bought with money obtained through crime.

“By selling items in this way, we hope to generate a bigger income from criminal assets, which in turn will benefit victims of crime and be reinvested in local policing initiatives.”

Crime is likely to fall as a result of the POCA; it sends a clear message to criminals that crime does not pay.

While people are hard at work earning money, others take advantage of vulnerable people bringing misery to the community and profiting from fear.

Communities are being asked by police to help tackle crime by calling the police direct or contact Crimestoppers in your area.

Geraint Jones, Crime Operations said: “What I can assure you is that we will take every report seriously, we will feed back to you what we have done. You will see the action we take in result of the information that you have given us.”

Related links:

http://www.cheshire.police.uk/get-involved/organised-crime.aspx

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/

Chester Intelligencer reporter, Lisa Jones

Man robbed and attacked in Cheshire after pulling over for fake policecar

A MAN was attacked and robbed in his car today after pulling over for what he thought to be an unmarked police vehicle near Northwich.

Police are appealing for any information on a white transit van.
Photo: kenjonro, Flickr

Cheshire Constabulary have appealed for information after a man from London driving a silver BMW on the A556 was robbed and attacked with a screwdriver by three men in a white van.

In an incident akin to many Facebook and social media hoaxes that warn not to pull over for any unmarked police car, the police have confirmed that it is very rare for an unmarked vehicle to stop drivers.

The offenders, driving a white Mercedes Sprinter van stole the victim’s personal belongings, including his phone and jewellery and attacked him before leaving. The victim, who is in his forties, was treated at Macclesfield Hospital for minor injuries.

The resonant social media scare campaign details a fake police car, with a convicted criminal driving, and warns to never pull over for an unmarked vehicle unless in a lit public space.

The Facebook post, which has been circulating the internet for a few years, has been proved to be disingenuous on a number of occasions but still erroneously convinces thousands of users of the dangers of pulling over for police vehicles.

The online frequently asked questions database, Ask the Police (www.askthe.police.uk) informs the public that you should never stop for any car if you are unsure if it is an authentic police vehicle.

It has since been confirmed that drivers should acknowledge police vehicles and pull over as long as they feel safe. Cheshire Constabulary advised for any drivers to stay inside their locked car and wait for an officer to show formal identification from behind the window.

Furthermore, any constables stopping vehicles on the road must be in full police uniform for the stop to be legal.

Anyone who might have seen the two vehicles on the layby on the A556 near Northwich should contact Detective Constable Craig Lindfield, at Wilmslow CID or call the non-emergency police number, 101.