To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been recovered under the Confiscation of Criminal Assets Act 2003 (a) in total and (b) in each police authority area, listed in descending order by amount recovered in each year since its introduction; and how much is in the process of being recovered. (176105)

The total net amount of criminal assets recovered from 2003-04 to 2006-07 under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and earlier legislation is £360.5 million.

The total value of confiscation orders and cash forfeiture orders obtained by each police authority in each of those years is set out in the tables placed in the House Library.

Enforcement of confiscation orders is not the responsibility of the police but is primarily a matter for Her Majesty’s Court Service.

The total amount of confiscation orders and cash forfeiture orders obtained by all agencies in April-November 2007 is £172.26 million. These orders are in the process of being enforced, along with orders made in previous years.