£1.25 million for Assets Recovery Community Scheme projects

Justice Minister Naomi Long has announced funding of £1.25 million will be invested in communities through the Assets Recovery Community Scheme (ARCS).

The ARCS funding has been allocated to 43 projects and will be delivered over three years.  The investment will help make a difference in communities through tackling crime and alleviating the fear of crime. 

The ARCS budget is derived from confiscation orders which may be made following a criminal conviction to recover the proceeds of crime. 

The Minister said: “The Scheme is an excellent example of investing in our communities to make positive changes.  The projects supported in this round of funding will benefit victims, communities, and the environment through a wide range of programmes. The Scheme supports the Department’s commitment to work in partnership to create a fair, just and safe community where we respect the law and each other.

“Criminals are interested in one thing and that is lining their own pockets. Asset recovery is an integral part of the response to organised crime.  I commend the partners on the Organised Crime Task Force for their continued efforts in prioritising asset recovery by bringing forward confiscation cases to deprive criminals of their ill-gotten gains.  Asset recovery funding helps the community make a direct link between operational action and the resulting benefits for those who suffer the most from the effects of organised crime.”

Initiatives funded include support for community safety initiatives, working with young people to build skills and confidence and reduce anti-social behaviour; preventing re-offending; domestic abuse and hate crime; raising awareness of fraud and scams and organised crime. 

Notes to editors: 

1. Further details about the funding allocations is available at Asset Recovery Community Schemes | Department of Justice (justice-ni.gov.uk)

2.Recovering criminal assets is an important focus for the partners of the Organised Crime Task Force.  50% of receipts from paid criminal confiscation orders goes into the ARCS budget, the other 50% continues to be distributed to agencies responsible for the recovery of the assets.

3. Applications were invited for initiatives that reduce crime, or the fear of crime, over the 2024/25 – 2026/27 period. 

4. 43 projects have been offered a total of almost £1.25 million funding, for services to be delivered in the period up to 31 March 2027. 

5.The projects, which will be delivered throughout Northern Ireland, have been offered funding totalling approximately £443k in 2024/25, £422k in 2025/26 and £385k in 2026/27. 

5.  All media enquiries should be directed to press.office@justice-ni.gov.uk. 

6. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted out of hours on 028 9037 8110.

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