Police authorities are set to receive a new year present of £5m from the Home Office, after seizing record levels of criminal assets during 2008. Home Office minister, Alan Campbell, has confirmed that forces in England and Wales stand to receive £5.4m in extra funding for the first quarter of 2009, after retrieving £33.5m from criminals between July and September 2008. An incentive scheme, introduced in 2006, allows police forces, prosecutors and courts to retain half of all assets seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the cash distributed once the totals have been verified. Mr Campbell said the cash was ploughed ‘directly back into the police force, so they can use it for their fight against crime in their area.' A Home Office spokeswoman said the cash boost meant ‘the policing precept across localities could be kept to a minimum' during the expected recession, which would have a beneficial impact on council tax levels.