Targeting money laundering in North West England

Criminals across North West England are making vast amounts of money illegally from serious and organised crime, and need to ‘wash’ this so that they can fund their lavish lifestyles.

So we've launched a major campaign to target this money laundering. We're encouraging members of the public to learn how this is done, discover the signs to spot, and to pass on what they see and hear to Crimestoppers - 100% anonymously. 

Call free on 0800 555 111 or go to our online form

What is money laundering, and how is it carried out?

Money made by criminals from drug dealing, counterfeit goods, human trafficking, modern slavery, selling weapons, sexual exploitation and other serious crimes cannot be easily spent or invested without concerns being raised, so criminals often go to elaborate measures to launder their money.

This is often done by using cash businesses as 'fronts', such as pubs, food takeaways, taxi companies, haulage firms, nail bars, and car washes. 

The criminals can also pay others as ‘money mules’ to transfer money through their bank accounts or travel abroad with cash. Once ‘washed’, this money is then able to be used to fund a lavish lifestyle in the UK or abroad.

What are the signs to spot?

The key to making our communities safer places to live and work is to prevent criminals from profiting from the pain and misery they cause. Look out for:-

• Cash-only businesses that appear to have few customers yet are still trading
• People regularly using Scottish/foreign currency notes
• People regularly using notes of high denomination values
• Businesses that regularly change either name, or type. 
• Those with unidentified wealth/no legitimate income
• People who regularly travel, with no clear reason for doing so
• Loan sharks
• People who are regularly purchasing high value/luxury items
• People who use other people’s bank accounts to regularly move large amounts of money
• Those who look to use other people to hold and move money between accounts
• People storing large amounts of cash/assets

Every year across the North West, we receive over 35,000 pieces of actionable information; this leads to a significant number of arrests, millions of pounds-worth of drugs being seized, vulnerable adults and children safeguarded, and weapons being taken off our streets.  

Your information can help save lives, and make the North West safer for you and your family.

 Speak up. Stay safe. Stop crime.

Call free on 0800 555 111 or go to our online form