Background
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and following legislation, the government has powers to recover criminal assets, including cash, property and other forms of value. This is through criminal confiscation, civil recovery and asset forfeiture. These powers aim to deprive criminals of the benefits of crime, deter further offending and prevent criminal proceeds being reinvested in further criminal activity.
Recovering assets needs coordinated action across many public bodies, including law enforcement, prosecutors, the courts and enforcement agencies.
The value of assets recovered has remained broadly stable in recent years and is small compared with estimates of total criminal proceeds. In 2024–25, £285 million was recovered across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The government has assessed that only 7% of outstanding confiscation orders are recoverable.
Scope
This report will look at whether the UK’s asset recovery system is efficient and effective in maximising the recovery of proceeds of crime. It will also assess whether the Home Office is providing effective oversight across a complex system. We will examine:
- how the asset recovery system is operating, including the Home Office’s understanding of how different recovery routes are used and how they perform
- the Home Office’s efforts to improve asset recovery outcomes
- how the various bodies involved work together to tackle barriers and respond to new and emerging crime
NAO team
Director: Tim Phillips
Senior Audit Manager: Richard Baynham