ASSETS seized from criminals have been used to pump thousands of pounds back into community projects across Surrey.
Five crime-fighting and community safety projects have been awarded their share of a £20,000 pot by Surrey Police.
A £5,000 sum has been awarded to Epsom and Ewell Home Security Scheme to help 100 residents identified as potential targets of burglars.
They will be handed special forensic kits to help deter crooks and essential maintenance work will be carried out to make homes safer.
An ageing community centre in Bushy Hill, Guildford will be renovated thanks to a £3,000 grant to the Bushy Hill Community Cohesion Event.
Reigate and Redhill YMCA has been awarded £5,000 for its Sovereign Centre Radio Programme aimed at 14-16 year-olds in Woodhatch and South Park.
The BFree Youth Cafe in Leatherhead has been given £2,000 to help engage with teenage boys at risk of committing crimes.
And Tandridge School of Hard Knocks, which aims to divert youngsters from crime and anti-social behaviour, has been awarded £5,000 to start a weekend rugby club.
The money has come from the assets confiscated by criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
Detective inspector Jo Hayes, who leads Surrey Police's POCA funding project, said: "The POCA funding scheme is taking the cash out of crime and giving it back to local communities.
"We hope that the grants will make a real difference to the five successful projects that are working to reduce crime, the fear of crime or improve community safety."
She added: "We are continuing to hit criminals where it hurts them the most – in the pocket."
Under the POCA scheme, assets seized from criminals are shared between the Home Office, which gets a 50 per cent share, the Crown Prosecution Service, who receives 18.55 per cent and the court, which receives 12.5 per cent. The investigating agency, such as Surrey Police, gets the remaining 18.5 per cent.
From article at thisissurreytoday
