A drive by West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson to get seized criminal cash reinvested in communities has been given a boost after a meeting with the Policing Minister.

Mr Burns-Williamson met Damian Green and handed him a document proposing ways to close loopholes exploited by criminals to avoid their assets being seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).

He raised the POCA petition with Mr Green last month and Security Minister James Brokenshire earlier this month, who agreed loopholes meaning cash gets hidden overseas need closing.

The latest proposals handed to Mr Green included giving police powers under POCA to seize and retain property, cut down the bureaucracy on information sharing between government departments to speed up investigations, and allow property in police possession to be immediately transferred when the confiscation order is made ensuring it can be sold at best value rather than the current drawn out long delays.