Greater Manchester Police ploughs criminal cash back into community projects

Greater Manchester Police successfully claimed back more than 17m from criminals in the last financial year.

That money is ploughed back into community and policing projects through the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) to support the objectives to fight, prevent and reduce crime.

The work is ongoing to continue to deprive criminals of their ill-gotten gains – this year convicted drug dealer Lee Whiteley was ordered to pay back more than £200,000 and Umair Zaheer, the ringleader of a nationwide drugs and firearms conspiracy, ordered to pay £350,000. 

Among previous successful bidders was Child Safety Media, who put on the Crucial Crew safety sessions for youngsters in Oldham and across Greater Manchester. 

Over the past 12 months, Child Safety Media have been awarded £45,000 to co-ordinate the sessions attended by around 16,000 children. 

GMP officers helped present the workshops in venues including schools across the force area that looked at issues like personal safety, crime prevention, internet safety, cyber-crime, knife crime, rail safety, anti-social behaviour, crime and its consequences and road safety. 

Another group to benefit from GMP’s ARIS funding was Chadderton Football Club, who successfully applied for £72,000 as part of a larger project to install a new artificial pitch. 

Detective Superintendent Andrew Buckthorpe who leads GMP’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “The last tax year saw GMP recover the highest-ever amount of criminal cash and it shows that the hard work from officers and staff in the unit and across the force is making a real difference in communities across Greater Manchester."

Child Safety Media’ s director, Dan Lowrie, added: “This is partnership working at its very best and it is our privilege to work together on a local project where all participating agencies are committed to protecting our vulnerable young people from harm. 

“On behalf of Child Safety Media, I would like to thank GMP in particular for also providing the vital ARIS funding, for without it this ‘Crucial Crew’ child safety programme would not have been possible."

GMP has just conducted its latest round of community bids with the successful projects soon to be notified and is hoping for another round of funding in 2026. Since 2023, GMP have given more than £1.5m to groups across the region. 

Non-profit organisations which benefit a large number of people can apply for a maximum of £20,000 to fund 12 months’ activities. Head to GMP's website for more information.