MORE than £12m was taken back from West Yorkshire criminals last year, police have revealed.

West Yorkshire Police enjoyed one of its best years ever in the 2011/12 financial year.

The force stripped £12.2m in cash, cars and possession from criminals – more than double its takings the previous year (£5.6m).

The Kirklees district Proceeds of Crime team alone secured over £1.5m in confiscation orders.

The record levels of seizures places West Yorkshire second nationally, with only the Met enjoying a better record of taking back the proceeds of crimes.

Det Chief Insp Mick Lawrenson, from West Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said the figures had been boosted by some sizeable cash seizures.

He said: “We did have a very good year last year.

“We’ve had a real push on it, making sure we’re targeting the right people.

“There’s a little bit of luck in there too and we also had one or two good jobs.”

And Det Chief Insp Lawrenson said the unit would continue to pursue those who thought that crime paid.

He added: “West Yorkshire Police are committed to protecting the public of West Yorkshire from the harm caused by criminals and our dedicated teams of officers and financial investigators will continue their efforts to strip those criminals of their luxurious lifestyles which are often funded through their criminal activities.”

In 2010 police showcased some of the luxury cars they took back from criminals in Bradford.

More than £1m-worth of vehicles including Bentleys, Porches, BMWs, Audis, Mercedes and Range Rovers – some stolen in Huddersfield – were recovered.

Money seized from criminals goes back to the Home Office but some is re-distributed to the police for their work recovering stolen goods.

The money is also used to fund ongoing police operations, for crime reduction and prevention projects and to tackle local and organised criminality in West Yorkshire.

The courts and the Crown Prosecution Service are also given money.

A number of Kirklees community groups have already received grants thanks to the seized cash.

In Huddersfield, Rangers and Police Together and Newsome Unites received £1,750 for its project with charity Bumpy Ltd – a bid to reduce the number of vehicle and motorcycle related incidents and give young people a safe and legal environment to ride motorcycles.

The project will target a group of young people in Huddersfield to break down barriers and tackle issues such as theft, drugs and alcohol.

In Dewsbury, a project to discourage gang culture and racially related violence has also been gifted £1,750.

Other clubs to receive similar grants include Rawthorpe Amateur Boxing Club, Huddersfield Pakistani Community Alliance, Thornton Lodge Action Group and Deighton Community Carnival Youth Crime Project.

Community groups who want to hold activities which discourage anti-social behaviour or criminality in 11-25 year olds in West Yorkshire can apply for grants from the police on their website.

The deadline is September 14 and applications must be endorsed by their local Neighbourhood Policing Team.

http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/about-us/community-trust/main-grant-round-2012