Northumbria Police officers of Gateshead area command have scored another winning result in Operation Hornet – the investigation by officers to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs in the Birtley area – when they seized almost £1,500 of ill-gotten gains.
On Thursday December 10 Northumbria Police made an application at Gateshead Magistrates’ Court for forfeiture of cash seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The application against Neil Haswell, aged 30 of Lansbury Drive, Birtley, Gateshead was granted.
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. The money recovered in this instance is believed to be the proceeds of drugs-related offences.
Jill Nattrass, Financial Investigator from Gateshead Police said: “The Proceeds of Crime Act is an effective tool and works alongside the criminal case. This is the first in the series of forfeitures and confiscations that we’ll be applying for as a result of Operation Hornet and demonstrates our intention to strip offenders of the proceeds of their criminal activities”.
Inspector Scott Hall, from the Gateshead South Neighbourhood Policing Team, added: “This is an excellent result for us, and a demonstration of our continued commitment to removing the proceeds of crime from the hands of criminals.”