Community groups and charities to share more than £100,000 claimed back from criminals

Eight community groups and charities will share more than £100,000 claimed back from criminals.

GMP’s Economic and Cyber Crime Unit (ECCU) recovered a record £18m from criminals in the past year with a proportion used to support local communities through the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) across Greater Manchester. 

The latest successful bidders that will share £104,000 are: 

• SPARK Oldham CIC 

• Bury Asian Women's Centre (Bury Active Women's Centre) 

• One Manchester 

• Darnhill and Heywood ABC & Self Development Centre CIC 

• All Aboard Youth Rowing, Rochdale 

• Withington/Old Moat TAN 

• Your Music NW CIC, Bury 

• StreetDoctors 

When money is recouped through ARIS, GMP keeps a proportion to fund community initiatives, and the rest goes back to the Home Office. A proportion of assets seized, and cryptocurrency is also paid into the ARIS fund. 

The money is either used on community initiatives or within the force to further assist recovery work, or on policing operations to keep communities safe. 

Detective Superintendent Andrew Buckthorpe, head of GMP’s Economic and Cyber Crime Unit, said: “In the last financial year, we secured our highest-ever recovery of criminal proceeds, and we are delighted to be able to pass some of that cash onto our communities. 

“This achievement demonstrates the impact our officers and staff are making, both within the unit and throughout GMP, as we remain committed to ensuring these funds are reinvested into the communities we serve. 

“Protecting the people of Greater Manchester is our top priority, and this is one of the ways we can directly give something back. 

“Thanks to the determination of our teams, we are in a strong position to continue stripping offenders of the funds that often fuel further criminality. 

“It is even more rewarding to know that the money we recover is now being used for positive purposes across Greater Manchester.” 

The next ARIS bidding window is expected to open in July 2026.