Assets body rejects criticism over low level of seizures

The Assets Recovery Agency in the North has defended itself amid criticism of the amount of money it costs the run the body.

The agency was set up to seize the proceeds of suspected illegal activities from criminals.

However, it has come under attack in Britain's House of Commons after figures showed it is seizing considerably less than it costs to run the organisation.

Tory MP Grant Shapps says figures he has obtained show the agency is recovering around £14m (€20.5m) less than its running costs every year.

However, the ARA says more than £100m (€146m) worth of suspected criminal assets are currently frozen as a result of its work.

Jane Earl, the agency's director, said it would take time to formally seize these assets as the ARA was breaking new legal ground and taking difficult cases through the courts.