STATEMENT HO/EM 357/03
Home Office Minister Bob Ainsworth will team up today with Sports Minister Richard Caborn to kick off a new Leicester project to keep kids off drugs and away from a life of crime.
Positive Futures, a nation-wide scheme, which has been running since 2000 and has so far helped over 25,000 10 - 19 year olds, gets vulnerable young people involved in sport and on track to a brighter future. The two Ministers will visit Braunstone Sports Centre to officially open the new project and also mark the publication of a three-year strategy. The strategy, along with a cash injection of £16.4 million, ensures the initiative''s future.
Mr Ainsworth said:
"Positive Futures makes a real difference to the lives of thousands of vulnerable young people in the worst hit areas. We want to act early and prevent drugs misuse - by engaging them in sport we can tackle the multiple issues associated with problematic drug use. Through sport and team activities they build their self-esteem, increase their skills and learn to relate better to others.
"An evaluation study published today shows that Positive Futures is not only helping vulnerable young people but also relieving communities of anti-social behaviour. By targeting young people we plan to prevent another generation of drug addicts and offenders, tackle drug-related crime and help communities to get rid of the scourge that drugs can cause.
Mr Caborn said:
"Sport is a fantastic way to bring together and motivate people and it is great to see it having such an encouraging effect in the East Midlands. Offering youngsters the opportunity to turn to a new sport instead of crime is clearly a good idea and I am very pleased that the Positive Futures initiative is to now benefit the people of Braunstone too."
Mr Ainsworth also congratulated Leicestershire Police on their success in seizing criminals'' assets using tough new laws. £282,000 in cash has been seized, and a number of high-value cars are just some of the assets taken away from local criminals by Leicestershire Police since the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 came into force.
New laws include the power for police and customs to seize suspect cash. And the new Asset Recovery Agency can take civil action to recover the proceeds of unlawful activity and tax any individual or company where there are ''reasonable grounds to suspect'' they have gained financially from crime.
Mr Ainsworth said:
"Positive Futures has received £1 million in funding from recovered assets - that is money we have clawed back from criminals. And tough new laws mean we are now going after the cash and assets of even more criminals. We are hitting them where it hurts, in their pockets.
"Already in Leicestershire, police and customs have seized £282, 000 in cash - this is £282,000 that would have paid for drugs, guns or other criminal activity, or was made from crime.
"We are cracking down on these parasites who make money at the expense of victims of crime. Why should law abiding people work hard for a living whilst the criminal minority live a tax-free life of luxury built on the misery of others?"
Assistant Chief Constable Davina Logan said:
"This is a very useful tool to assist us in hitting criminals where it really hurts. Being able to seize cash and items acquired and paid for through crime will force criminals to question whether crime really does pay. It also will mean less criminal role models for our young people to look up to."
Notes to editors
1. Mr Ainsworth will join Sports Minister Richard Caborn to kick off a new Positive Futures project at Braunstone Sports Centre to keep kids off drugs and away from a life of crime. 2. Positive Futures is a Government initiative managed within the Home Office Drugs Strategy Directorate. The advisory group consists of representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Culture Media and Sport, the Connexions Service (DfES), Sport England, Youth Justice Board and Football Foundation. Positive Futures aims to provide sustained support to vulnerable young people by engaging them in sport, education, training and employment, and keeping them away from drugs, crime and anti-social behaviour
3. The Home Secretary officially launched 37 new projects at Arsenal Football ground earlier today. He was joined by Dion Dublin, Aston Villa and Carlton Cole, Chelsea.
4. The Government has made £15 million available as part of the SR2002 package which was announced in December. The allocation of the money to Positive Futures was announced by Home Office Minister Bob Ainsworth on 3 February 2003 as part of a funding announcement for young people''s drug services. The Football Foundation have contributed £1 million, and Sport England have contributed £0.4 million.
5. The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 received Royal Assent on 24 July 2002. The cash search and seizure provisions came into force in December 2002. For more information on the Government''s strategy to recover the proceeds of crime log on to http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/proceeds/index.htm.
6. The Asset Recovery Agency became operational on 24 February 2003. For further information about the work and powers of the Assets Recovery Agency log on to http://www.assetsrecovery.gov.uk.
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BUILDING A SAFE, JUST AND TOLERANT SOCIETY
