A Parliamentary inquiry into the inability of law enforcers to seize illegal gains of criminals like Mr Bigs was announced on Friday, as figures showed that organised crime bosses now owe more than £770 million in unpaid court orders.
Commons Home Affairs Committee said, “proceeds of crime” investigation will analyse weaknesses in how confiscation orders are enforced and gaps in legislation that make it easier for criminals to keep illicit gains. It will also evaluate the need for new laws and whether harsher penalties for non-payment should be imposed or not.
Committee Chairman Keith Vaz said: “Measures to deprive criminals of their proceeds has long been a point of frustration for the police and other agencies.
“Officers are often forced to watch as loopholes in the system are exploited. It is crucial authorities can put forward a message that crime does not pay.
“This inquiry will investigate weaknesses in the current system — including the limited use of confiscation orders, poor data-sharing and enforcement — to identify how we can prevent Mr Bigs benefiting from their victims.”
Mr Vaz further added that the committee was also asked to hold the inquiry by the findings of a National Audit Office report which revealed the inadequacies of the confiscation order enforcement. These inadequacies included poor IT systems, a lack of knowledge by law enforcers on relevant legislation and the failure of different government agencies to share data about cases adequately. Written evidence will now be sought before parliamentary hearings at which ministers, lawyers, police, accountants and other experts are set to testify.
