News from East Midlands Labour

East Midlands benefits by over £500,000 raised from seized assets

Over £500,000 raised from the assets and goods seized from the country’s wealthiest criminals is being re-distributed to worthy community groups here in the East Midlands.

It is part of the £4 million Community Cashback Scheme where members of the public were asked to vote for which community groups they wanted to see receive a share of the cash. In total 30 projects in the East Midlands will each receive a share, news that has been welcomed by Labour’s Regional Minister for the East Midlands, Phil Hope.

Phil said:

“The Community Cashback Fund has given local people a direct say on how they wanted the money raised from criminal assets to be spent and I am delighted that the public have voted for 30 projects here in the East Midlands to receive a share.

“The Tories have dismissed these schemes as gimmicks but I think the community groups and the people that use them will know that this is not a gimmick and they will look forward to using this money.”

Alan Johnson MP, Labour’s Home Secretary said:

“It is only right that criminals are made to payback for their crimes. The Community Cashback fund ensures some of their ill gotten gains are ploughed back into local communities.

“Seizing assets deprives criminals of money, reduces the incentive for crime and promotes fairness and confidence in the criminal justice system. I’m glad so many people have got involved either by putting forward plans to improve their neighbourhoods or by voting for their favourite project.

“This is a concrete example of the Labour Government enabling communities to come together and turn the proceeds of crime into benefits for the many instead. It’s the practical application of Labour values.”

Included in the list of schemes to benefit from the cash are:

* £26,500 for a community Allotment Site in Derbyshire;
* £12,000 to extend a mentoring and outreach service in Northamptonshire;
* £14,000 for the Killisick Youth Action Group in Nottinghamshire;
* £6,000 for extending the membership of a community boxing gym in Leicestershire which diverts people from anti-social behaviour;
* £17,000 to fund a fully accredited motorcycle maintenance programme.

More than 45,000 members of the public voted on 1,225 community projects via a dedicated website, neighbourhood policing meetings and through citizens’ panels.

Other news from East Midlands Labour

• Minister joins Mums and Dads across the East Midlands to Save Our Sure Start - 17 March 2010
• New figures reveal Car Srappage Scheme's success in the East Midlands - 15 January 2010
• It would be great to see "football coming home to Nottingham" - 17 December 2009