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Tate brothers' forfeited cash funds violence against women groups

Tate brothers' forfeited cash funds violence against women groups

Money Moves

£525,000 over three years for grassroots projects in Devon and Cornwall

3 days ago: £525,000 grant programme announced for local groups

Overview

Updated 10 minutes ago

In December 2024, Devon and Cornwall Police won a civil forfeiture order against Andrew and Tristan Tate over unpaid tax and money laundering. On 11 November 2026, £525,000 of the money returned to the force was opened to grassroots groups tackling violence against women and girls.

The grants are small, about £5,000 each in a previous pilot, but they reach local charities that often sit outside national funding streams. The programme also tests whether proceeds of crime can be recycled into prevention rather than sent entirely to the Treasury.

Why it matters

Money seized from the Tate brothers now funds local groups trying to prevent violence against women, rather than returning entirely to the Treasury.

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Key Indicators

£525,000
Grant fund
To be distributed over three years by Devon and Cornwall community foundations.
£2.9m
Assets seized
Civil forfeiture order covered tax and VAT evasion and money laundering.
£1m+
Returned to police force
Portion reinvested locally after the Treasury took the majority.
3
Years of grant funding
The programme is scheduled to run for three years.

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People Involved

Andrew Tate
Andrew Tate
Social media figure; subject of forfeiture order
Subject of 2024 civil forfeiture; no criminal conviction in this case
 Tristan Tate
Tristan Tate
Social media figure; subject of forfeiture order
Subject of 2024 civil forfeiture; no criminal conviction in this case
MH
Mary Hancock
Chief executive, Devon Community Foundation
Overseeing grant distribution
AH
Alison Hernandez
Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Approved reinvestment into violence against women programmes

Organizations Involved

Devon and Cornwall Police
Devon and Cornwall Police
Police force
Secured forfeiture; reinvesting returned funds

The police force that brought the civil forfeiture case against the Tate brothers and received more than £1 million back to spend locally.
DC
Devon Community Foundation
Community foundation
Distributing £525,000 with Cornwall Community Foundation

A local charity that manages grants to community groups in Devon and will co-run the new violence against women fund.
CC
Cornwall Community Foundation
Community foundation
Co-distributing the £525,000 grant fund

A local charity that will help distribute the new grants to grassroots groups in Cornwall.
OP
Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Police and crime commissioner office
Consulted on reinvestment; match-funding male allyship pilot

The office that oversees local policing and helped decide how the returned Tate money should be spent.

Timeline

December 2024 November 2026

4 events Latest: 3 days ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. £525,000 grant programme announced for local groups

    Latest Funding

    Devon and Cornwall foundations will distribute money over three years to violence against women projects.

  2. Cornwall male allyship pilot selects training partner

    Programme

    CLEAR chosen to deliver training; first allies due to start in September 2026.

  3. Police commissioner announces male allyship pilot

    Funding

    £50,000 match funding from seized Tate assets supports Cornwall Male Ally Network.

  4. Court orders £2.9m forfeiture from Tate brothers

    Legal

    Westminster court found tax evasion and money laundering through Devon bank accounts.

Scenarios

1

Grants reach small groups in both counties

Likely Resolves by Nov 11, 2027

Discussed by: Devon Community Foundation and Cornwall Community Foundation

The foundations plan to distribute £525,000 over three years, with application details published on their websites. A previous pilot gave about £5,000 to each group, so the programme's reach depends on how many small organisations apply.

2

Male allyship pilot expands into Devon

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

The Cornwall Male Ally Network launched in November 2026 with £50,000 match funding. The commissioner's office says it hopes to expand the pilot into Devon next year if it succeeds.

3

Private donors add to the violence against women fund

Possible Resolves by Nov 11, 2027

Discussed by: Devon Community Foundation

The foundations are encouraging businesses and individuals to contribute to the Violence Against Women and Girls Fund. Any new donations would expand the total beyond the £525,000 recovered from the Tate forfeiture.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2002

Proceeds of Crime Act (2002)

UK law allows authorities to recover assets through civil courts, where the standard of proof is lower than in a criminal trial. Police can pursue cash and property without first securing a criminal conviction.

Then

Forces gained a route to seize suspected criminal assets even when charges were not brought.

Now

Civil forfeiture became a common tool in tax evasion and money laundering cases.

Why this matters now

The Tate order was brought under this law, which is why the money can be redirected to local groups without a criminal conviction.

2026

Cornwall Male Ally Network pilot (2026)

The police commissioner's office used £50,000 in match funding from the Tate money to create a male allyship pilot in Cornwall. The network trains men to challenge harmful behaviour in sports clubs and social spaces.

Then

The first allies were due to qualify in time for the project's official launch in November 2026.

Now

The pilot is intended to become a nationally recognised programme and expand into Devon.

Why this matters now

It shows the forfeiture money is already funding prevention work, not just the new grant scheme.

Sources

(6)
South Hams Today Hello Rayo Devon & Cornwall Police Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Cornwall Live Exeter Today