Q153 Mr. Dave Anderson: The brief we have shows that the task force is multi-agency; it has a list about a mile long. You said you have recently restructured. Has that worked positively or are there other things you need to do?

Sir Hugh Orde: It is early days, but that we have created a stakeholder group is important. I think also the fact that business is coming on board is important.

Mr Sheridan: By way of example, I sat on the stakeholder group two weeks ago where for the first time we had business people involved: various small businesses, the CBI and the Chamber of Commerce, just for them to understand the amount of work and the effort that we were putting into it, because each of the groups represented, the assets recovery, the police, the Customs, give a presentation of what they were doing with organised crime for them to help understand that, and then they started to have that debate as to how they could help in it. That was where it started to become important for me. For example, somebody from the CBI said, "We run a monthly newsletter for all our people. We could give you space in that as the police to get some messages across." So just having that group of people together, thinking in the same direction, having a co-ordinated effort, is hugely helpful. That is where it has been restructured, around bringing in the business community.

Q154 Mr. Dave Anderson: What is the working relationship like between yourself and the ARA? Do you think it would help them if they had powers to confiscate, as they have in Ireland?

Mr Sheridan: We have a really good relationship with the ARA. In fact, as you have probably seen in some of the evidence, we gave more work to the Assets Recovery Agency than all of the other police forces in the United Kingdom put together. We have made 70 referrals this year, a lot of work. Unfortunately, for Assets Recovery, it has not come to fruition in the courts because of judicial reviews and so on, but they will come to court and I think that will help build confidence in people so they can start reporting more and more of this type of crime, because they will see that it ends up in court. But in terms of whether they should have the same responsibilities as CAB, it is the same issue. As I said to Lady Hermon, it would be useful in policing terms just to have the same harmonisation of legislation.

Sir Hugh Orde: As a principle, the default position for us is criminal compensation first, if we can. The current changes have helped. I do not know if Phil wants to touch on that.

Mr Aiken: One thing that has further enhanced our relationship is the setting up of a joint intelligence cell, whereby we make available intelligence to the Assets Recovery Agency in order that they can use the information that is within the police systems to speedily process their activity through the courts and through their investigations in respect of criminality. So what we have undertaken is a review of our memorandum of understanding. We see it as a living, evolving document, whereby our processes will be continually enhanced, and that is starting to bear fruit. To take the Chief's point, we get first bite at the cherry, in so far as it is not unless there is a failed investigation that we pass something on. That is why we have a lot of money under restraint at the moment which we are endeavouring to progress through into a certificate of realisation.

This is an uncorrected transcript of evidence taken in public and reported to the House. The transcript has been placed on the internet on the authority of the Committee. Neither witnesses nor Members have had the opportunity to correct the record. The transcript is not yet an approved formal record of these proceedings.

Promoted by Paul Foy on behalf of Dave Anderson, both of St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Shibdon Road, Blaydon, NE21 5PT