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Payback continues to reap rewards

Northumbria Police

16 April 2009


A NORTHUMBRIA Police campaign to take the cash out of crime continues to reap rewards.
So far a total of 21 arrests have been made during Operation Payback 3, with cash, drugs, cars, jewellery and other property recovered from a series of raids across the force.
On Tuesday at raids in Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside a total of eight arrests were made, while yesterday in South Tyneside and Gateshead there were 12.
Warrants executed by Sunderland Area Command at addresses in Durham resulted in one more arrest, bringing the total to 21 arrests for a variety of offences, including drugs offences, money laundering and theft.
The operation to take the cash out of crime continued today with raids at addresses in Sunderland, where it's hoped more assets are seized and arrests are made.
This morning's activity marks the end of the 48-hour initiative, which began at 8am on Tuesday morning and is aimed at highlighting the good work carried out by the force all year round.
Chief Constable Mike Craik said: "The number of arrests made so far is good news and a lot of property has been seized from across the force. I'm confident there'll be more to come today as the final raids take place.
"These raids are just the beginning of the hard work that will take place to retrieve the money which has been spent by criminals on their ill gotten gains.
"We've shown over the past two days that it's not only about those people who live a life of luxury, but we are focusing on those people who may be your neighbours, who may not necessarily have expensive assets, but what they do own is paid for by crime.
"These people live their life on the back of crime while you go out to work hard to earn an honest living. The activity carried out shows we won't tolerate this behaviour and it makes it clear for neighbours to see we are taking action.
"Those people who think they can get away with this in their community can rest assured we will come for them. We will dig them out of their false respectability and bring them to justice."
The force's Operation Payback campaigns have seen more than £3 million worth of goods seized from career criminals since 2007.
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, police can seize any cash or goods if they are believed to be criminal property or being used to commit crime. As part of Chief Constable Mike Craik's pledge of Total Policing, Northumbria has taken every opportunity to use these powers.
As part of the campaign the force is urging law abiding members of the public to help them by reporting any suspicious activity to police.
Anyone who has information which could help identify offenders can ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit the website, which is playing a key role in the campaign, at www.northumbria.police.uk.