The Proceeds of Crime Act of 2003 was passed to ensure that criminal activity could not be profitable while ensuring that high crime areas received the needed funds to help establish a lower crime rate. There is basically no limit to the liquidation of personal assets of criminals, and the funds are then distributed back through the communities that are in the greatest need.
While cash is certainly on the list of ways the criminals can provide retribution for their acts, a judge can order that addition proceeds such as homes, boats, jewelry, or possibly clothing or other essentials that were purchased with illegally gotten funds to be confiscated.
About 17 million is distributed into funds that pay for programs designed to help the law abiding citizens of the UK, and anything over that goes into the UK Treasury.
This idea can easily be a big hit. Since profiting from crime is something that can increase criminal activity, taking away the funds that were gained acts as a natural deterrent. Moreover, the effected neighbourhoods are more likely to develop programs that help prevent crime when they are properly funded. The one serious issue with this whole idea is that innocent people can and have been thought to be committing illegal acts. There is no need for trial or proof of crime, just a simple order from a judge.
Waiting for a trial without the ability to financially sustain yourself or your family can be more than just devastating. There is no way to pay for court costs, representation, or even day to day living expenses on your own. The lack of guilt or innocence does not matter.
Most of the criminal cases that are handled in the UK do not go to court but are settled outside of a courtroom. While this is a faster means of executing the system, those who opt for this are almost guaranteed not to receive their funds. If you can prove your innocence then you must wait for a trial.
While there have been few reported cases of innocent individuals falling under the confines of the Proceeds of Crime Act, one has to ask themselves if there is a better way to protect the innocent under such circumstances. Mistakes are made and there is no way to guarantee that more mistakes won’t occur. In the end, the funding in the neighbourhoods of high crime is making a huge positive impact on these areas.