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Too Much Bling?

People who live lavish lifestyles from the proceeds of crime are being targeted in a joint campaign by police, Crimestoppers and their partners in Berkshire East.

A two-week advertising campaign called ‘Too Much Bling? – give us a ring’ has been launched to coincide with National Tackling Drugs Week (8-12 June). The campaign encourages you to report your suspicions about people who appear to be wealthy despite any evidence of a legitimate income.

Is someone you know living a lavish lifestyle from the proceeds of crime? Don’t stand for it. Report what you know to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 – you won’t be asked your name, just what you know. You can also report online at the Crimestoppers website (opens new window).

Thames Valley Police, all three councils in Berkshire East – Slough, Bracknell Forest, and the Royal Borough – and the Crimestoppers charity have joined forces for the campaign, which has already been run successfully in Leicestershire, Kent and Sussex.

Detective Inspector Kevin Brown, who is leading the campaign, said: “It’s incredibly disheartening, especially in the current economic climate, for hard-working, honest people to see other people leading luxurious lifestyles on the back of crime.

“We want people to know that they can do something about it – by ringing Crimestoppers anonymously and reporting people who are clearly living well beyond their means. Crimestoppers will pass that information to us, and our Asset Recovery Team will look at that person’s lifestyle and sources of income to decide whether the matter should be pursued.

“We cannot simply confiscate property and decide that it is the proceeds of crime. There will be a court hearing where it must be proven, on the balance of probabilities, that the person is living a criminal lifestyle. If the case is proven, the court can order confiscation.”

He continued: “With the evidence that comes from good intelligence, we are able to ‘freeze’ all of an individual’s cash and bank accounts, their home, vehicles, electrical items and jewellery. Then, following a successful prosecution, we are able to take back the proceeds that they have accumulated from the last six years of crime.

“The proceeds of the seized property, if not returned to the original owner, are then deposited in a central government fund – a percentage of which will be returned to the Force. We will use the money to fight crime, by funding the training of more financial investigators and putting the money towards community-based projects.”

Criminal assets seized

Between April 2008 and March 2009, criminal assets worth £3,947,818.84 were ordered to be forfeited or confiscated as a result of Thames Valley Police investigations. These included seizures made in connection with drugs offences, fraud and theft cases.

Detective Inspector Brown added: “We decided to launch this campaign during National Tackling Drugs Week because a lot of criminal asset seizures are made in connection with drugs offences. However, it’s not just drug-dealers that we’re targeting – burglars, thieves, robbers and money launderers can all live off the proceeds of their crimes.”

More about the campaign

• The ‘Too Much Bling? – give us a ring’ campaign will be advertised on buses and through a series of hard-hitting radio adverts.
• A number of events will also take place across Thames Valley in support of National Tackling Drugs Week, where the ‘Too Much Bling?’ campaign will be featured. Events include public displays to town centre shoppers, crime prevention stalls, open days, and a multi-agency five-a-side football competition in Bracknell in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society.
• This latest campaign forms part of Operation Falcon, an ongoing Thames Valley Police initiative to tackle and disrupt drug-dealing in Thames Valley.