POCA - A Local Authority View

Local Authorities & POCA

What asset recovery offers

• Contributes to your Councils Strategic Priorities

To protect the most vulnerable

To support the local economy

To help build strong and active communities for all (WBC)

• Strengthens Crime & Disorder Partnerships

• Effective investigation & enforcement tool

• Holistic approach to enforcement

• Positive media messaging opportunities

The Financial Investigation Service

Financial Investigation Services

The aim of the Financial Investigation Team is to ensure that;

• financial investigation & financial intelligence,

• money laundering investigation capacity,

• assets restraining opportunities,

• post conviction confiscation and compensation,

• cash seizure,

is available to Northwest regulatory services who do not have internal financial investigators, on a low cost basis.

Case Referral Process

Completion of Case Referral Form by the referring agency

Establish desired outcomes for the 10hs of free FI investigation time.

Financial intelligence report prepared by the AFI for the referring LA.

Discussion on the way forward using POCA.

MOU signed, in depth financial investigation commenced.

The AFI’s Role

Intelligence checks on targets

Advice on investigation strategies

Establish available assets value for POCA post conviction confiscation

Provide valuable financial evidence for criminal prosecutions

Advice on offences and support for prosecutors

Preparation of all court papers for restraint, cash seizure & confiscation proceedings

Training Service

Financial Intelligence & Financial Investigation Awareness

Investigating & Prosecuting Money Laundering Offences

POCA Confiscation – from complaint to asset recovery

Cash Seizure Awareness

In development – criminal investigation skills including interviewing, file prep, statements

Training: offer low cost courses for local authority investigators, managers and prosecutors on;

Case Opportunities

POCA

Animal Health

EnvironmentalHealth

BenefitFraud

EnvironmentalCrime

TradingStandards

Planning Enforcement

Breaches

Case Examples

The Private Landlord Fraud

The Counterfeiter

Housing & Council Tax Benefit Fraudster

No Planning Permission

Illegal Waste Disposal

Asset Recovery works

£3,845,450.38 in criminal benefit identified for confiscation in local authority cases

£1,723,185.60 Confiscated to date

£367,124.97 Compensation paid to Local Councils & victims

£10,745 Cash Seizure – this service only commenced in December 2012

151 investigations

Results

Improve criminal investigators knowledge of the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Maximise your Council’s identification of asset recovery opportunities.

Identify how your Council accesses the skills of a financial investigator.

Crime Shouldn’t Pay – don’t let it!

The Way Forward

Investigation

Has the criminal law

been broken?

Has the defendant

benefited from the crime?

Has the investigator contacted an

AFI ?

Does the defendant have

assets?

POCA

Case Identification

For more information…..

On financial investigation services or training contact Warrington’s Financial Investigation Team via:

Geraldine Marchment on 01925 442445

Email: gmarchment@warrington.gov.uk

Crime Shouldn’t Pay – don’t let it!