Police use new powers to forfeit money believed to be in the hands of dissident republicans

 
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has used new powers for the first time to forfeit money that was believed to be in the hands of violent dissident republicans.
It follows the seizure of £3,500 by officers investigating suspicious activity in Derry last September.
Police say that when it was seized, they believed the money was in the hands of a proscribed organisation known as the ‘New IRA’.
It means that money that may have been used to buy guns and explosives to attack members of the community, including police officers, has been taken out of circulation.
Antrim Crown Court was told today that a claim by an individual to contest the forfeiture had been dropped.
Money seized under the legislation is retained by the Treasury, with a portion being allocated to the PSNI.
Police can use this money for specific operations to combat crime and criminality and to keep people safe. It cannot, for example, be used to buy police equipment.”