The province is using criminals' ill-gotten gains against them at a whole new level this year, as the money and property seized as proceeds of crime hit a record high, and that money is being used to fight crime.
The ministry of the attorney general announced Friday that it is putting up $5.5 million seized from criminals to local crime prevention efforts in 2012.
The money is targeted for projects that reduce youth involvement in gangs, prevent violence against women and children, and further crime prevention.
"With civil forfeiture, bad guys lose twice. Not only do they see the courts taking away tools and proceeds of unlawful activity, which cuts into their bottom line, they also see us use the proceeds to fight and remediate crime in communities," said Attorney General Shirley Bond. "Countless organizations do fantastic work to prevent violence, gang activity and crime in general, and I encourage them to apply to share in this new round of grants."
Year to date, civil forfeiture has taken in $10.8 million - more than double the $4.8 million in all of 2010-11, and more than is needed to sustain the self-funding program, according to a ministry press release.
Grant applications are available at: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/grants/index.htm
