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“Show me the money!” Met targets proceeds of crime

On 14 November more than 1,300 officers from the Metropolitan Police targeted what were described as "key figures in organised criminal networks, gang members and street-level offenders", as part of the Met's 'total war' on crime. Operation Stimtone 2 was the largest day of action the force has ever put together to tackle criminals specifically by investigating their financial activities.

There were been 175 arrests for a variety of offences, including money laundering, fraud, theft and handling stolen goods. Police had seized around £348,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), including an Audi.

According to a statement from the Met: "Drug dealing, trafficking and prostitution, money laundering, rogue landlords, vehicle documentation fraud, handling stolen goods, conspiracy to defraud charities, as well as seizing assets and confiscating money from criminals using the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 are on Operation Stimtone 2's agenda."

Police officer jailed for misuse of force intelligence computer

Picture of keyboard for Your Expert Witness story, courtesy of freeimages.co.uk A former Nottinghamshire police officer who misused the force's computer system to access information about friends, partners and associates has been jailed.

Robert Kirk pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in a public office when he appeared at Derby Crown Court earlier this month. He appeared at the same court again today on 22 October and was sentenced to eight months in prison.

Kirk had been a constable based in the force's intelligence unit until an investigation began two years ago. He resigned at the start of October after admitting the offence.

Offenders to pay more toward victim services

Picture of Helen Grant for Expert Witness story From 1 October new rules will come into force making more criminals to pay towards supporting victims of crime, following an announcement by Helen Grant (pictured), the minister at the Justice Department responsible for victims' redress.

In an overhaul of the way services for victims and witnesses of crime are funded, the 'victim surcharge' will be increased and extended. Currently offenders who have been fined contribute a surcharge of £15 – accounting for around a sixth of the funding for victims' services. Taxpayers provide the rest. Extending the victim surcharge is part of the government's plan for offenders to provide up to £50m more each year for victim services.

Police custody in Greater Manchester - Firm foundations for improvement in place, but still more to do

Police custody provision in Greater Manchester was heading in the right direction but there were some significant concerns, said Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons, and Dru Sharpling, HM Inspector of Constabulary, publishing the report of an unannounced inspection.
The inspection was part of a national programme of joint inspections of police custody. It looked at ten custody suites operating 24 hours a day in: North Manchester, Longsight, Pendleton, Swinton, Tameside, Cheadle Heath, Bolton, Wigan, Bury and Chadderton, as well as two standby suites at Stretford and Oldham. Overall there were some areas of excellent practice, but some areas which still needed to be addressed.

Money launderers target litigators

Picture of US dollars for Expert witness story The Law Society has issued a warning to its members regarding two areas of litigation that have become the targets of money launderers. The two favourite targets are debt recovery and matrimonial litigation.

According to the Law Society Gazette, guidance to help firms avoid being the victim of fraudsters has been reissued by Chancery Lane.

There is, according to the article, a perception that solicitors engaging in litigation may not be sufficiently vigilant on client due diligence that has lead both money launderers and fraudsters to target law firms.