Spalding police seize £41,000 fraud cash

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Lincolnshire Police have made their biggest ever seizure of cash after a fraud investigation at a Spalding home uncovered £41,000 hidden underneath the bath and behind a bath panel.

Enquiries into the cash revealed that the occupants had been involved in business ventures, and had over a number of

years, evaded payment of tax to the Government.

They had failed to declare their earnings and hidden the cash from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which is a criminal offence.

Lincolnshire Police Economic Crime Unit working together with the support of HMRC initiated an investigation and Grantham Magistrates Court considered the evidence put forward and decided that the money was gained from tax evasion.

Following a successful application under the Proceeds of Crime Act by Lincolnshire Police's Economic Crime Unit, the court made a Forfeiture Order in the sum of £41,320. This means that the money is retained, and handed over to the Home Office.

Head of the Economic Crime Unit, Detective Sergeant Greg Emmott said, "This is the largest single amount of cash

seized by Lincolnshire Police and forfeited by a Lincolnshire Court using the Proceeds of Crime Act since it began.

"Under the Act, we have the right to seize money which is suspected of being obtained illegally.

"The onus is on the individual to prove that it is legitimate, rather than for us to prove that it isn't.

"We will continue to seize cash that we suspect has been obtained criminally, and the courts will decide whether it is legitimate or not.

"Approximately £20,000 of this forfeited money will be returned by the Home Office to Lincolnshire Police for re-investing into activity which brings more criminals to justice, reduces harm to our communities and makes Lincolnshire a safer place".