Security
Targetting terrorist funds
Terrorism could not exist without money to fund recruitment, training and propaganda, as well as terrorist attacks.
Terrorism is often financed by the proceeds of crime. The effort to disrupt the flow of money to terrorists, both at home and internationally, is an important element of our counter-terrorism operations.
Facts & figuresÂ
What's been done to cut off terrorists finances:
- 100 organisations and over 200 individuals in the UK have had their assets frozen, totalling over US$100 million in the last 5 years
- 160 countries, including the UK, have frozen terrorist assets worth US$112 million, under United Nations Security Counsel resolutions
- most of the money seized in the UK has been given to the Government of Afghanistan to fund its regeneration. Around US$500,000 of terrorist assets remain frozen in the UK
- a dedicated national Terrorist Finance Investigation Unit has been set up, and is a key tool in investigating terrorism
Making the UK a hostile environment for terrorists
The Police and security services work closely with financial industries, banks and the private sector to ensure that it is as difficult as possible for terrorists to use the financial infrastructure to their advantage.
We work jointly to track, freeze and disrupt terrorist finances, and we use intelligence gained from these investigations to gain more understanding of terrorist operations and methods.
Recovering the proceeds of crime
Police and customs officers have powers to seize the money that criminals make from, and intend to use in, crime. Terrorists make money through organised crime, so we can seize this money.
These special powers were implemented under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The powers are applicable to the proceeds of all crime, not just terrorism.
