Over the last two years more than £300,000 has been retrieved from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act and put back into Gwent community projects. HANNAH WOOD discovers how this money has helped local people and organisations.

LAST WEEK, the Argus reported how Stuart Lewis, a 31-year-old drug dealer from Newbridge, was ordered to pay back more than £25,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The Proceeds of Crime Act is an Act of Parliament which provides the confiscation or civil recovery of the proceeds of crime.

The money retrieved has usually been stolen or made through illegal means – such as drug dealing.

Lewis’ payback was one of the larger orders made – police caught him with the cash on him in carrier bags, after he made an attempt to flee with it.

Crown courts have imposed thousands of such orders across England and Wales since the act came into force in 2002, and projects have benefitted from criminals’ ill-gotten gains redirected back into the community.

Payback orders are also meant to act as a deterrent to career criminals – stripping them of the proceeds of their crime.

The Gwent police and crime commissioner’s partnership fund collates the money seized under the act and it is then offered to fund local projects and organisations.

Throughout 2013 and 2014 the fund has contributed £332,552.94 to 107 projects across Gwent.

Mixed martial arts groups, housing communities and animal learning centres were among the organisations which received the funds after applying.

In September this year, Gwent police and crime commissioner, Ian Johnston, announced that nearly £157,000 in the first nine months of 2014 had been seized from criminals and put back into the local community.

Groups applying for the fund had to demonstrate the positive impact their project would have on their community, whilst contributing to delivering the commissioner’s priorities for Gwent, which include reducing and preventing crime, taking more effective action to reduce anti-social behaviour and protecting people from serious harm.

The groups were able to apply for funding up to the region of £10,000.

One of the groups to receive funding was Tillery Combat, mixed martial arts group in Blaina, Blaenau Gwent. Using sport, fitness, discipline and self-defence, the Tillery Combat MMA Academy helps to divert the most disaffected and disengaged people in the community away from a life of crime and substance abuse.

Head coach, Richard Shore said: “We received £5,000 which contributed towards equipment for the gym and also to help fund some of the students who come here.

“The grant has definitely been a godsend, we work alongside youth offenders organisations and this grant has proven to change lives as without funding there would be nowhere for these youths to go,” he said.

One person who can vouch for how the club can help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour is 24-year-old Jack Robert Marshman from Abertillery.

Mr Marshman was expelled from school at the age of 14 because of his behaviour and had got into trouble with the police several times.

After his father urged him into coaching, Mr Marshman received considerable mentoring and training and managed to steer away from crime and substance abuse.

He said: “I was a big trouble maker when I was 14 or 15, so my dad asked Richard, the head coach here, to train me and I’ve never looked back.”

“I think this gym attracts a lot of people who have been through the same as what I’ve been through.

“If you’re putting all your effort into training and dieting for fighting, you are bound to have a controlled lifestyle.

“You have to or you won’t make it in the sport. Mixed martial arts help you to channel and control your aggression which can only help in reducing crime in communities.”

Money seized through the Proceeds of Crime Act has also gone towards funding a hard hitting, educational film which highlights the dangers of new psychoactive substances.

Supported with a £5,000 contribution from the Partnership Fund, the 60 minute film, The Good Drug Dealer, focuses on the devastating impact of drugs such as mephedrone.

The film is based on research by former school teacher, Jeff O’Reilly, who spent a year speaking to approximately 70 youngsters aged around 15 and 16 in Blaenau Gwent.

“This film is important because the increase in use of new psychoactive substances such as mephedrone means we are facing the largest drugs concern in parts of Gwent I have seen in over thirty years of working in the development of drugs education for schools,” Mr O’Reilly explained.

“The Commissioner’s Partnership Fund has been vital to this project and the Commissioner and his team have been central in driving this forward not just financially but in an advisory capacity as well.”

Bron Afon Community Housing manages the Woodland Court retirement home were another organisation to benefit from the fund.

The organisation was awarded £2,000 from the Commissioner’s fund for a project which aims to help them tackle anti-social behaviour.

Sam Notley, Bron Afon’s Youth Engagement Support Officer said: “This project provides a great opportunity to bring together the younger and more senior members of the community in order to challenge perceived stereotypes between the age groups.

“The aim of the project is to deliver fun, interactive workshops which will focus on highlighting similarities rather than difference.”

Gwent PCC Mr Johnston said that the competition for funding is extremely tough yet humbling to receive so many applications from projects that genuinely need the money.

He said: “It’s a shame that we couldn’t fund even more. It shows there is a real need for my partnership fund and it is fitting to see money recovered from criminals going back to benefit local communities.”

Speaking at the announcement of the 2014 funding, Mr Johnston said: “Many of these projects have already generated overwhelmingly positive results within their communities but this vital funding will help them achieve a great deal more.

“It will complement the hard work they have already dedicated to the cause.

“We want fewer victims of crime in our communities and we recognise the fantastic role that volunteers at some of these projects can play in complementing the work of Gwent Police and other local partners in the community.”

Other organisation benefitting from the Partnership Fund include, Torfaen Warriors Boxing Club, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the Eden Gate charity in Newport and the Lylac Ridge Animal Learning Centre in Risca.

The Gwent PCC 2015 announcement detailing those groups which are to receive the partnership fund will take place in March.