FORFEITED CASH WILL GO TO CRIME FIGHTING

Half a million dollars seized from criminals under B.C.'s Civil
Forfeiture Act will be used to fund crime prevention programs across
the province, the B.C. government said Thursday.

Since April 2006, B.C. has had legislation allowing authorities to
seize property purchased with the proceeds of crime, such as houses
used for marijuana growing operations and cash used in drug deals.

Under the act, forfeited property can be used to cover the
administrative costs of going after suspect property, compensate
victims of crime or to fund crime prevention programs.

So far, $3.4 million in assets have been forfeited to the government
under the program as a result of 22 forfeiture cases taken to court.

Last July, $500,000 seized as a result of an unregistered investment
scheme in the Interior was returned to its rightful owners.

Now, for the first time, the government is directing $500,000 of the
forfeited money to a crime prevention grant program.

B.C. Solicitor-General John Les said he's happy to see money seized
from criminals going towards crime prevention. "It's one of the more
satisfying things I've been able to do," he said.

Communities will be able to apply for a one time only grant of up to
$20,000 to address a crime prevention problem in their community. A
variety of groups will be eligible to apply for the grants, including
local governments, community organizations, school districts, and
first nations bands.