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Ref: 1118 February 18, 2008
TOO MUCH BLING? GIVE US A RING!
YOUR CALLS ARE ANONYMOUS
DO you know someone who is living beyond their means? Could they be benefiting from the proceeds of crime? Don’t stand for it says Hertfordshire Constabulary, if they’ve got too much bling, then give us a ring!
Two months on since the launch of the ‘Too much bling? Give us a ring!’ campaign, Hertfordshire Constabulary and Crimestoppers is today (Monday, February 18) reiterating to members of the public to get in touch, if they suspect someone in their community of benefiting from the proceeds of crime, by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Crimestoppers is the UK’s only charity dedicated to help solving crime and finding wanted criminals. Calls to Crimestoppers are anonymous. People who call do not have to give their name, or their details, just the information they wish to pass on.
The Hertfordshire Crimestoppers board have jointly funded the ‘Too much bling? Give us a ring!’ campaign and Chairman Peter Camilletti said: “I would like to remind all members of the public that Crimestoppers is completely anonymous and all calls are treated in the strictest of confidence. Your name or details won’t be passed on to the police, it’s just your information that they will use. You shouldn’t worry or be scared about any come backs once you’ve passed the information on. There won’t be any repercussions.”
Peter added: “It’s important that you do come forward and help the police put an end to these criminals who think they can get away with living their life funded through crime. Let’s show them it’s not, call Crimestoppers anonymously today on 0800 555 111.”
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002), the spotlight is firmly focussed on drug dealers, car thieves and burglars who break the law to bankroll their lifestyles. The police can strip criminals of any assets funded through ill gotten gains and bankrupt their criminal enterprises so they are no longer able to commit crime and acts as a deterrent from breaking the law in the first place. The value of seized property can then be reinvested into the police to help fight crime.
Detective Superintendent Mark Drew from the Serious and Organised Crime Group, who is leading the campaign, said: “We still need your help in stopping these criminals from flaunting the profits of their illegal activities in your community. Your calls can really make a difference to the society you live in by allowing the police to remove those negative role models and taking away their ill gotten gains.”
Mark continued: “It’s not too difficult to spot these people – they have the obvious signs that they’re living beyond their means, with no legitimate way of funding it. These are the people in your community who live a lavish lifestyle with no legal way of supporting it. Ask yourselves, how are they paying for it? If you suspect somebody benefiting from the proceeds of crime, then call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Since the beginning of the financial year, April 2007, Hertfordshire Constabulary have been granted confiscation orders worth almost £1.3 million and seized over £400,000 in cash. In the past, property that has been seized has included homes, high value vehicles such as a Ferrari, two Porsches, a Mercedes and expensive clothes and jewellery.
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