Ch Supt Taylor hands over the cheque
A group of youngsters is enjoying an outdoor course – thanks to criminals.
A dozen 13- and 14-year-olds are taking part in the course at an outdoor centre in North Yorkshire during which they will learn climbing and kayaking skills, helped by a cash boost from confiscated criminal proceeds.
The teenagers are attending Carlton Lodge outdoor centre near Thirsk one day a week over a five-week period as part of the Inspire and Achieve 2012 project.
North Yorkshire Police have chipped in with £2,853, recovered from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The cash has helped pay for a subsidised mini-bus and driver, buoyancy aids and logbooks.
The grant was the latest in the force’s Why Should They? campaign, which redistributes criminals’ ill gotten cash to worthy causes.
Nick Lewis, deputy head of Hambleton and Richmondshire pupil referral service, said: “We were delighted when we found out that our bid had been successful.
“The money has enabled us to start the course locally with a view to expanding it across the whole of North Yorkshire.
“We have had a brilliant start to the course with the pupils taking part in physical activities and workshops which will help build their team working and problem solving skills, as well as being fun and exciting.”
Each young person will complete a personalised record of development and will have the opportunity to gain recognised certificates in climbing and kayaking.
“One of our young people is already half-way to his first climbing award in just one session. That’s a great achievement,” Mr Lewis added.
Two police community support officers from North Yorkshire Police are also providing workshops on internet safety, weapons and knife crime, anti-social behaviour and its consequences, road safety, social responsibility and the consequences of drugs misuse.
North Yorkshire Police’s chief superintendent Colin Taylor presented a cheque to representatives from Carlton Lodge Outdoor Centre and North Yorkshire Youth Ltd, which operates the centre.
Ch Supt Taylor said: “It gives us great pleasure to be able to hand over criminals’ money for the benefit of positive projects which help the wider community.
“Our officers work very hard to confiscate the cash and it’s great to see it going to good causes such as the Inspire and Achieve 2012 project.”
During the last financial year North Yorkshire Police’s financial investigation unit seized £1,339,479 from criminals under the POCA.
The team made its largest single seizure so far in January this year when they confiscated £800,000 from Dennis and Bianca McGinley who threatened their victims into parting with more than £1.8m.
The Why Should They? campaign made £25,000 of this seized cash available to local good causes in North Yorkshire which help make a contribution to reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.
