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<p>The table below shows the total number of confiscation orders issued for 2012/13
and 2013/14. It also shows the average value of confiscation orders made for drug
related offences. The average value data is based on the ‘current’ order value and
not the ‘original’ order value to ensure the data accurately captures amendments to
the values following successful appeals or variations.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>
</p></td><td><p><strong>2012/2013</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/2014</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total
orders issued</strong></p></td><td><p>6401</p></td><td><p>6033</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Average
value of orders issued (drug related offences)</strong></p></td><td><p>£16,336.86</p></td><td><p>£16,490.30</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Confiscation orders are one of the key mechanisms available
to the Government to deprive criminals of the proceeds of their crimes. They are based
on the notional benefit attributed to the crime and may therefore exceed the value
of realisable assets that are known to the Court at the time of imposition. Crucially,
an order that is outstanding stops the criminal benefitting from the proceeds of crime
and ensures that, if assets are discovered in the future, they can be seized.</p><p>
</p><p>HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and other agencies involved in confiscation
order enforcement take the recovery of criminal assets very seriously and are working
to ensure that clamping down on defaulters is a continued priority.</p><p> </p><p>The
amount defendants repaid from their criminal activity across all agencies has increased
for the last five consecutive years and we are currently on course to have another
highly effective year. £137.2million was collected in 2013/14 (which represented a
4% increase on the total recovered during 2012/13); as at the end of December 2014,
£113 million had been recovered, which is an increase of 10% on the same period last
year.</p><p>The majority of Confiscation Orders (52% by value) are enforced by agencies
other than HM Courts & Tribunals Service. These agencies include the Crown Prosecution
Service (CPS), Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Department for Work and Pensions and local
authorities.</p>
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