Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make establish a National Police Trust funded from money seized from the proceeds of crime.

The allocation of criminal funds recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) is governed by the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS). The Scheme is designed to incentivise all agencies involved in asset recovery, including the police, to pursue criminal proceeds with the overarching aim of reducing crime and delivering justice.

Under ARIS, a proportion of the assets recovered using POCA powers is redistributed to the agencies involved in the recovery, based on their relative contributions. Currently, up to 50% of ARIS receipts are returned to operational partners depending on their contribution. The Scheme also supports the development of regional and national asset recovery capabilities through the ARIS Top Slice Fund, which ringfences £13.9 million annually for this purpose.

In line with the spirit of the Scheme, the Government encourages agencies to invest their ARIS funds to enhance asset recovery and, where appropriate, to fund local crime fighting priorities that benefit communities. The use of ARIS allocations is at the discretion of each agency, ensuring they retain flexibility to direct funds in line with local priorities and operational needs. As such, these funds may be eligible for donation to support a National Police Trust, should agencies choose to do so.

More detail on the breakdown of ARIS funding can be found in the Asset Recovery Statistical Bulletin (ASB) at section 7: Asset recovery statistical bulletin: financial years ending 2020 to 2025.