CRIMINALS will be hit where it hurts most - in their pockets - through a scheme in which the police force covering Wyre Forest is playing a part.

West Mercia Constabulary is among Midlands' forces working with Customs and Excise on Operation Payback, a new drive to seize assets that people have acquired as a result of criminal actions.

Assistant Chief Constable Nick Tofiluk, who is leading the initiative in the region, said: "Most criminals are motivated by money and some can amass very substantial fortunes through their illegal activity.

"It is very frustrating for hard-working, law-abiding citizens to know that criminals are making large sums of cash by being parasites on our communities. Operation Payback will turn the tables on criminals.

"We already arrest a substantial proportion of people wanted for offences but now, as well as facing the criminal justice system and being punished by the courts, criminals will know their finances and assets are also going to be very closely scrutinised.

"Wherever we believe that cash or property - including cars, houses, jewellery and electrical equipment - is a benefit of illegal activity, we have the power to restrain, investigate and, potentially, confiscate."

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, which came into force last year, gave police and their law enforcement partners powers to seize items and cash, with a proportion being ploughed back into tackling crime by being given to police.

Daryn Elton, West Mercia's Payback project manager, said the force had already begun to make "substantial inroads" into taking the profit out of crime by taking away criminals' assets, adding: "Now we will be redoubling our efforts and looking to seize cash and goods wherever we can.

"Under the terms of the Proceeds of Crime Act, there is the opportunity for forces to claim back a sizeable proportion of the seizures they make.

"We hope this will equip us with even greater resources to tackle crime and those who commit it."