MPS Art and Antiques Unit

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.033500

I note you seek access to the following information:

I would like to request the following information in respect of the Metropolitan Police’s Art and Antiques Unit from 2017 to date:

* A year-by-year breakdown of the number and types of charges which have been brought against suspects in the Unit’s investigations;

* A year-by-year breakdown of the number and sum of confiscation orders (under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002) made against defendants whose convictions have stemmed from the Unit’s investigations; and

* The proportion of investigations currently being undertaken by the Unit, which have a parallel financial investigation being conducted under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - A year-by-year breakdown of the number and types of charges which have been brought against suspects in the Unit’s investigations;

2017 - 2 x Fraud by false representation
1 x Handling stolen goods

2018 - 1 x Dealing in tainted cultural objects
1 x Theft
1 x Criminal damage
1 x Burglary

2021 - 1x Money laundering
1x Possess indecent photographs

Q2 - A year-by-year breakdown of the number and sum of confiscation orders (under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002) made against defendants whose convictions have stemmed from the Unit’s investigations; and

2022 - 1 x POCA forfeiture

Q3 - The proportion of investigations currently being undertaken by the Unit, which have a parallel financial investigation being conducted under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

There are 9.