CRIMINALS who prey on the communities of Herefordshire and Worcestershire have been warned: "It's payback time."

That is the message from West Mercia Police, who on Thursday joined the launch of a Midlands-wide initiative called Operation Payback to seize assets that people have gained as a result of crime.

The aim is to take the profit out of crime and hit crooks where it hurts them the most - in their pockets.

"Most criminals are motivated by money and some can amass very substantial fortunes through their illegal activity," said Assistant Chief Constable Nick Tofiluk, regional lead for Operation Payback.

"It is very frustrating for hardworking, 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."

Police and their law enforcement partners were given the powers to conduct seizures by the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 which came into effect last year.

And the money seized will be ploughed back into tackling crime as a proportion of it will be given to the police.

"West Mercia Constabulary has already begun to make substantial inroads into taking the profit out of crime by taking away criminal assets," said Daryn Elton, West Mercia project manager for Payback.

"Now we will be redoubling our efforts and looking to seize cash and goods wherever we can.

"We strongly believe that people who commit crime should be prevented from enjoying the proceeds.

"Too many communities have been blighted by criminal activity and by seeing offenders flaunting the wealth that they have acquired from their illegal acts.

"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."