SUFFOLK Constabulary is to receive a windfall of more than �23,000 as its reward for helping to seize villains' assets.The money is part of a �5.48million cash boost for police forces across England and Wales.

SUFFOLK Constabulary is to receive a windfall of more than �23,000 as its reward for helping to seize villains' assets.

The money is part of a �5.48million cash boost for police forces across England and Wales.

It comes from assets clawed back from criminals between October and December last year.

The Home Office said confiscations by police and other agencies for the final quarter of 2008 totalled �31.8 million.

Half of this amount will be shared between police, prosecutors, courts and other agencies.

Although Suffolk police will get �23,297.02, it is the lowest dividend in the area when compared to neighbouring counties. Cambridgeshire Constabulary is to be given �72,797, while Norfolk will receive �82,957 and Essex will get �73,318.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Mattin, of Suffolk Police, said: 'The money awarded to Suffolk Constabulary goes back into the policing of the county. The amount received varies every quarter as it depends on how many orders have been granted by the courts, how much they are worth and how long they take to process.

'For instance, in one particular case it was four years after the arrest and two years after the POCA confiscation order, before the money was received.'

'The Proceeds of Crime Act is an extremely useful policing tool. Any criminals operating in Suffolk should be warned that we will not only put them before the courts, but we will also use this legislation to strip them of their ill-gotten gains.

'We want criminals to feel the full weight of the law and we are extremely committed to using these powers to their full potential."

The highest amount to be handed out for the assets retrieved between October and December 2008 is to the Metropolitan Police which will get �1,888,875.89. The force with the smallest payout is Dyfed-Powys with �4,131.11.

Since the Proceeds of Crime Act came into effect in 2003, �530.5m has been retrieved from criminals.

An incentive scheme introduced in 2006 allows the police and recovery agencies to retain half of all cash they seize from criminals.

A total �15.9 million will be paid back nationally for the last quarter of last year, to the police and other agencies involved in asset recovery.

Nationally the amount of money being clawed back from criminals, particularly drug dealers, has risen each year since 2003.

A total of �135.7m was recovered in the financial year 2007-8, �125.36 m 2006-7, �96 m 2005-6, �84m in 2004-5 and �54.5m in 2003-4.