A top of the range Subaru Impreza Turbo seized from a drug dealer is the latest evidence that police are getting criminals to give up their illegal profits.
A Mini Cooper S already seized from a Sussex drug dealer is to be auctioned, with the proceeds going back to support both local police work against financial crime and the work of independent charity Crimestoppers.
In March 2008, 26-year old David Holbrooke was stopped by Police whilst driving in Peacehaven. Searches of the car and his property resulted in seizure of £37,000 worth of cocaine and £3000 cash. Police were able to seize the car immediately and on 25 April 2009 at Hove Crown Court he was sentenced to six years for conspiracy to supply cocaine.
The Mini Cooper had been seized on 6 May 2008 when 28-year old Yafet Berhane, from London W11, was arrested whilst driving it in Brighton after conducting what officers believed to be a drugs deal. On 22 December that year he pleaded guilty to seven counts of supplying crack cocaine and, on 11 March 2009, he also pleaded guilty to ‘concealing criminal property’ (money laundering) and sentenced to five years imprisonment.
Berhane was ordered to pay back the proceeds of his crime – to the tune of nearly £130,000. The Mini Cooper was included in the confiscation order of £127,971.24. Berhane was given two months in which to pay the confiscation order or face a further three years imprisonment in default.
Whilst police will now enable the profit from the Mini Cooper sale to go back into legitimate society, the confiscated Subaru will now be used by Sussex Police and Crimestoppers to get across the clear message that anyone caught dealing in drugs will be made to pay. The car’s eye-catching new makeover includes the Crimestoppers number on the doors and the no-nonsense statement ‘Serving Sussex – Making Criminals Pay’ emblazoned across it.
Carolyn Collard, Chair of Sussex Crimestoppers, said: “Sussex Crimestoppers actively supports the work of the police to make Sussex safer. We have a strong track record in helping the police catch criminals and seize assets, and the Subaru is another example of that partnership in action.”
Detective Sergeant James Whiley of Sussex Police, said: “David Holbrooke went to prison. He lost his liberty, and his car. The seized Subaru demonstrates our commitment to seize assets from those who profit from drug dealing and cause misery to others. It also shows that we will continue to target drug dealers at all levels.
“Sussex Crimestoppers plays an active role in helping to keep Sussex safe by providing an anonymous phone line that can be used by people to give information about crime and criminals.
“We urge anyone with information about crime to contact police on 0845 60 70 999 or, if they would prefer to stay anonymous, to call Crimestoppers, an independent charity, on 0800 555 111.”
The photo shows both cars and police dogs ‘Eric’ a spaniel trained to detect cash, drugs and firearms, with handler PC Paul House, and ‘Carter’, a black Labrador puppy with Inspector Di Lewis’. ‘Carter is currently awaiting training as a drugs and cash detection dog when he grows up.
Money from the sale of the Mini will be divided between Sussex Police and Sussex Crimestoppers. The police funding will help towards training extra police dogs to search for cash and drugs, and to help finance IT equipment for the force’s financial investigators.
In 2009/10 alone Sussex Police secured 179 court confiscation orders following convictions, valued at £2.388 million, plus 34 civil forfeiture orders valued at £178,405 following cash seizures from suspected offenders.
Under the Asset Recovery Incentive Scheme, the Home Office pays back to front line agencies, including the police, 50 per cent of all recovered assets. Police, prosecutors and courts receive a share of confiscation order receipts on an 18.75/18.75/12.5 per cent basis.
In addition to the money coming back to law enforcement, some of the other 50% comes back separately under ‘Community Cashback’ to local community schemes put forward by Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJB) working together with Community Safety Partnerships. In Sussex the LCJB, of which Sussex Police is a member, last year secured grants for several such projects: Albion in the Community Sports Tuition, Whitehawk, Brighton; Selsey East Beach BMX Track, The BEAT Youth Club Garden in Eastbourne; Bushy Wood Scouts Climbing Wall, Hailsham; Piddinghoe Skate Park, Peacehaven; Positive Influence Male Mentoring Scheme, Crawley Foyer and LA Spurgeons Youth Work, Littlehampton.
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