The Revenue & Customs Prosecution Office (RCPO) confiscated ?22 million in criminal assets and obtained 411 confiscation orders following its launch in April 2005, according to its annual report.

The body, which took over prosecuting all matters arising out of Revenue & Customs investigations, completed 1,710 cases involving 2,269 defendants. Overall, 89% of its prosecutions resulted in the conviction of at least one defendant, and 81% of defendants either pleaded guilty or were convicted. Director David Green QC said: ?There has been recognition on both sides of the new relationship between an independent RCPO and the investigators within Revenue & Customs.?