$3.15m seized from gangs redirected to East Coast mental health and addiction services

Police have seized an estimated $513 million in illegally obtained cash and assets from gangs and criminals over the past four years. Photo / NZME

Ill-gotten gains seized from gangs and criminals by police are being used to help those impacted by their actions.

In the past four years, police have seized an estimated $513 million in illegally obtained cash and assets.

The cash and assets seized become proceeds of crime and will be redistributed back into "positive community projects", assistant commissioner investigations Lauano Sue Schwalger said.

This includes $3.15 million for mental health and addiction treatment services in the Eastern Police District.

She said police's job was to make criminal activity less profitable, and less appealing.

"Our goal was to hit $500 million by June 30, and in doing so we know we have had a direct and significant impact on organised crime – an activity that feeds on greed, profits, and harm to the community.

"It is money that provides criminals with power and influence, but it is also proving to be their biggest vulnerability."

Chris Jenkins, of Kia Tipu Te Ora Trust in Hastings, supported proceeds from crime being redistributed back to communities impacted by addiction. Photo / Paul Taylor

Chris Jenkins works as a counsellor at Kia Tipu Te Ora Trust in Hastings, helping those impacted by addiction.

He was supportive of an initiative where the proceeds of crime go into the community impacted by it.

"I think that's a great idea - the proceeds of that crime should go back to the victims of it.

"I'd like to see that rolled out right across the country."

Hawke's Bay definitely had high rates of methamphetamine use, he said.

On any day he can have about 30 people come to the Heretaunga St centre.

He said he'd like to see that funding go towards "grassroots and frontline" organisations, not just those administered by the District Health Board.

"We are supporting dozens of people each week.

"We support anyone who's impacted by addiction including family members of addicts."

Napier MP Stuart Nash wants addiction to be treated as a health issue. Photo / NZME

Napier MP Stuart Nash said he had lobbied hard for Eastern District to get this support but would like to see it rolled out nationwide.

"Meth is just insidious."

He said money taken from those "peddling the stuff" being given to support services was a "wonderful investment", as people needed professional services to help overcome addiction.

"I'm hugely against drugs but I absolutely believe addiction needs to be treated as a health issue.

"Often when someone finds their way into the web of addiction, it doesn't mean they are a bad person ... they may have just made some bad decisions."

He noted it was not just gangs, but other organised criminal groups, and wanted to look at legislation to prevent organised crime members putting their assets into trusts or associates' names to stop it being seized.