Fed chair backs petition for POCA funds to be used in support of officers

15 March 2024

Dyfed Powys Police Federation chair Gareth Jones has backed a campaign for an allocation of funds seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) to go towards the support of officers living with injuries and conditions sustained in policing.

A petition has recently been launched to propose the introduction of a policy that would see organisations providing care to affected officers, both active and retired, receive an annual portion of money recovered from assets obtained through criminal activity.

“There are police staff whose dedication to the Force has left them with day-to-day struggles and there are organisations out there who want to help them,” said Gareth. “But they aren’t getting enough opportunities to receive financial aid.”

The Act, which was passed in 2002, recovered £339.1m of assets through Confiscation, Forfeiture and Civil Recovery Orders in the financial year 2022 to 2023. This figure is down only 5 per cent from 2021 to 2022, the highest year on record for proceeds of crime recovered, and still reflects the overall rising trend in asset recovery over the last six years.

While acknowledging that funds generated can be used to good effect, such as for further asset recovery, victim compensation, and local anti-crime initiatives, Gareth believes the people who go out into the field to face such crime are often too much of an afterthought.

“As police officers, we put ourselves in harm’s way every day and we don’t see any direct benefit from this when it comes to the money recovered from the activity we have to confront. It’s been this way for too long.”

Beneficiaries of the campaign’s success would include Police Care UK, who have appealed for more funding in their efforts to support the welfare, recovery and wellbeing of current and ex-staff who are injured or living with disability and mental health issues as a result of their roles in the Force.

“Causes that offer this kind of support are vital for the welfare of staff both past and present. Criminal activity can be stopped, money can even be seized back, but that isn’t always the end of it – sometimes officers have to live with debilitating injuries or psychological trauma,” Gareth added.

“The public won’t always be aware of that, but thankfully, these charities are.”

The petition, which was rolled out at the end of February, is approaching two thousand signatures on the Official UK Parliament website and is heavily endorsed by Gareth.

“I would urge all Federation members to stand in solidarity with colleagues whose lives have been impacted in this way by the demands of our profession and add their signature today.”