Boost to front-line policing

The funding is being given out by the Home Office, and comes from money seized from criminals.

Under the asset recovery incentive scheme, the Government department pays back 50 per cent of all assets recovered from criminals to front-line agencies, including prosecutors, the courts and police.

Essex Police will be given £102,089.84 as their share of the assets recovered between October 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007.

A spokesman for the force said: "The three-month period that the Home Office is referring to was quiet in Essex for such asset-seizing from criminals.

"As a whole year the force has had some high-value seizures."

In February 2008 plans were announced to give law enforcement agencies new powers. These include seizing high-value goods such as fast cars, plasma televisions and laptop computers from criminals before they can get rid of them.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: "Seizing criminals' assets sends a clear message to criminals that crime does not pay and profiting from crime will not be tolerated. I am determined to stop criminals profiting from the crimes which affect the lives of the law-abiding majority.

"I would like to thank the police and other agencies for their hard work in recovering £34 million of assets from criminals and I am pleased to take this opportunity to put this cash to front-line use in the fight against crime."