Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill

House of Commons

Session 2004 - 05
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill

Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill
Part 2 — Investigations, prosecutions, proceedings and proceeds of crime
Chapter 6 — Proceeds of crime
59

to the proceedings an opportunity to be heard) give such an
opportunity to any person who may be affected by its decision.
(6)
Subsection (5) does not apply where the court is acting as required by
subsection (2) or (3).
255C
Exclusions
5
(1)
The power to vary a prohibitory property order includes (in particular)
power to make exclusions as follows—
(a)
power to exclude property from the order, and
(b)
power, otherwise than by excluding property from the order, to
make exclusions from the prohibition on dealing with the
10
property to which the order applies.
(2)
Exclusions from the prohibition on dealing with the property to which
the order applies (other than exclusions of property from the order)
may also be made when the order is made.
(3)
An exclusion may, in particular, make provision for the purpose of
15
enabling any person—
(a)
to meet his reasonable living expenses, or
(b)
to carry on any trade, business, profession or occupation.
(4)
An exclusion may be made subject to conditions
(5)
An exclusion may not be made for the purpose of enabling any person
20
to meet any legal expenses in respect of proceedings under this Part.
(6)
If excluded property is not specified in the order it must be described
in the order in general terms.
(7)
The power to make exclusions must be exercised with a view to
ensuring, so far as practicable, that the satisfaction of any right of the
25
enforcement authority to recover the property obtained through
unlawful conduct is not unduly prejudiced.
(8)
Subsection (7) does not apply where the court is acting as required by
section 255B(3) or (4).
255D
Restriction on proceedings and remedies
30
(1)
While a prohibitory property order has effect the court may sist any
action, execution or other legal process in respect of the property to
which the order applies.
(2)
If a court (whether the Court of Session or any other court) in which
proceedings are pending in respect of any property is satisfied that a
35
prohibitory property order has been applied for or made in respect of
the property, it may either sist the proceedings or allow them to
continue on any terms it thinks fit.
(3)
Before exercising any power conferred by this section, the court must
(as well as giving the parties to any of the proceedings concerned an
40
opportunity to be heard) give such an opportunity to any person who
may be affected by the court’s decision.

Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill
Part 2 — Investigations, prosecutions, proceedings and proceeds of crime
Chapter 6 — Proceeds of crime
60

255E
Arrestment of property affected by prohibitory property order
(1)
On the application of the enforcement authority the Court of Session
may, in relation to moveable recoverable property to which a
prohibitory property order applies (whether generally or to such of it
as is specified in the application), grant warrant for arrestment.
5
(2)
An application under subsection (1) may be made at the same time as
the application for the prohibitory property order or at any time
thereafter.
(3)
Such a warrant for arrestment may be granted only if the property
would be arrestable if the person entitled to it were a debtor.
10
(4)
A warrant under subsection (1) has effect as if granted on the
dependence of an action for debt at the instance of the enforcement
authority against the person and may be executed, recalled, loosed or
restricted accordingly.
(5)
An arrestment executed under this section ceases to have effect when,
15
or in so far as, the prohibitory property order ceases to apply in respect
of the property in relation to which the warrant for arrestment was
granted.
(6)
If an arrestment ceases to have effect to any extent by virtue of
subsection (5) the enforcement authority must apply to the Court of
20
Session for an order recalling or, as the case may be, restricting the
arrestment.
255F
Inhibition of property affected by prohibitory property order
(1)
On the application of the enforcement authority, the Court of Session
may, in relation to the property mentioned in subsection (2), grant
25
warrant for inhibition against any person specified in a prohibitory
property order.
(2)
That property is heritable property situated in Scotland to which the
prohibitory property order applies (whether generally or to such of it
as is specified in the application).
30
(3)
The warrant for inhibition—
(a)
has effect as if granted on the dependence of an action for debt
by the enforcement authority against the person and may be
executed, recalled, loosed or restricted accordingly, and
(b)
has the effect of letters of inhibition and must forthwith be
35
registered by the enforcement authority in the register of
inhibitions and adjudications.
(4)
Section 155 of the Titles to Land Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1868
(c. 101) (effective date of inhibition) applies in relation to an inhibition
for which warrant is granted under subsection (1) as it applies to an
40
inhibition by separate letters or contained in a summons.
(5)
An inhibition executed under this section ceases to have effect when, or
in so far as, the prohibitory property order ceases to apply in respect of
the property in relation to which the warrant for inhibition was
granted.
45

Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill
Part 2 — Investigations, prosecutions, proceedings and proceeds of crime
Chapter 6 — Proceeds of crime
61

(6)
If an inhibition ceases to have effect to any extent by virtue of
subsection (5) the enforcement authority must—
(a)
apply for the recall or, as the case may be, the restriction of the
inhibition, and
(b)
ensure that the recall or restriction is reflected in the register of
5
inhibitions and adjudications.”
(3)
Schedule 6 (minor and consequential amendments relating to subsections (1)
and (2)) has effect.
94
Civil recovery: interim receivers’ expenses etc.
(1)
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29) is amended as follows.
10
(2)
In section 280 (civil recovery orders: applying realised proceeds), after
subsection (2) insert—
“(3)
The Director may apply a sum received by him under subsection (2) in
making payment of the remuneration and expenses of—
(a)
the trustee, or
15
(b)
any interim receiver appointed in, or in anticipation of, the
proceedings for the recovery order.
(4)
Subsection (3)(a) does not apply in relation to the remuneration of the
trustee if the trustee is a member of the staff of the Agency.”
(3)
In section 284 (payment of interim administrator or trustee (Scotland))—
20
(a)
the existing words become subsection (1), and
(b)
after that subsection insert—
“(2)
The Scottish Ministers may apply a sum received by them
under section 280(2) in making payment of such fees or
expenses.
25
(3)
Subsection (2) does not apply in relation to the fees of a trustee
for civil recovery if the trustee is a member of their staff.”
(4)
In paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 (finances of the Assets Recovery Agency), after
sub-paragraph (1) (paragraph (b) of which provides for the expenses of the
Director and staff of the Agency to be paid out of money provided by
30
Parliament) insert—
   “(1A)
Sub-paragraph (1)(b) has effect subject to anything in this Act.”
95
Detention of seized cash: meaning of “48 hours”
(1)
In the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Chapter 3 of Part 5 (civil recovery of cash in
summary proceedings) is amended as follows.
35
(2)
In section 295 (detention of seized cash, initially for 48 hours), after subsection
(1) insert—
“(1A)
The period of 48 hours mentioned in subsection (1) is to be calculated
in accordance with subsection (1B).
(1B)
In calculating a period of 48 hours in accordance with this subsection,
40
no account shall be taken of—
(a)
any Saturday or Sunday,

Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill
Part 2 — Investigations, prosecutions, proceedings and proceeds of crime
Chapter 6 — Proceeds of crime
62

(b)
Christmas Day,
(c)
Good Friday,
(d)
any day that is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial
Dealings Act 1971 in the part of the United Kingdom within
which the cash is seized, or
5
(e)
any day prescribed under section 8(2) of the Criminal
Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 as a court holiday in a sheriff
court in the sheriff court district within which the cash is
seized.”
(3)
In sections 290(6), 296(1) and 302(2), after “48 hours” insert “(calculated in
10
accordance with section 295(1B))”.
96
Appeal in proceedings for forfeiture of cash
(1)
For section 299 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29) (appeal against
forfeiture of cash) substitute—
“299
Appeal against decision under section 298
15
(1)
Any party to proceedings for an order for the forfeiture of cash under
section 298 who is aggrieved by an order under that section or by the
decision of the court not to make such an order may appeal—
(a)
in relation to England and Wales, to the Crown Court;
(b)
in relation to Scotland, to the Sheriff Principal;
20
(c)
in relation to Northern Ireland, to a county court.
(2)
An appeal under subsection (1) must be made before the end of the
period of 30 days starting with the day on which the court makes the
order or decision.
(3)
The court hearing the appeal may make any order it thinks appropriate.
25
(4)
If the court upholds an appeal against an order forfeiting the cash, it
may order the release of the cash.”
(2)
This section does not apply to a decision of a court not to order the forfeiture
of cash under section 298 of that Act taken before this section comes into force.
97
Money laundering: defence where overseas conduct is legal under local law
30
(1)
In the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Part 7 (money laundering) is amended as
follows.
(2)
In section 327 (concealing etc.), after subsection (2) insert—
“(2A)
Nor does a person commit an offence under subsection (1) if—
(a)
he knows, or believes on reasonable grounds, that the relevant
35
criminal conduct occurred in a particular country or territory
outside the United Kingdom, and
(b)
the relevant criminal conduct—
(i)
is not unlawful under the criminal law of that country or
territory, and
40
(ii)
is not of a description prescribed by an order made by
the Secretary of State.

Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill
Part 2 — Investigations, prosecutions, proceedings and proceeds of crime
Chapter 6 — Proceeds of crime
63

(2B)
In subsection (2A) “the relevant criminal conduct” is the criminal
conduct by reference to which the property concerned is criminal
property.”
(3)
In section 328 (arrangements), after subsection (2) insert—
“(3)
Nor does a person commit an offence under subsection (1) if—
5
(a)
he knows, or believes on reasonable grounds, that the relevant
criminal conduct occurred in a particular country or territory
outside the United Kingdom, and
(b)
the relevant criminal conduct—
(i)
is not unlawful under the criminal law of that country or
10
territory, and
(ii)
is not of a description prescribed by an order made by
the Secretary of State.
(4)
In subsection (3) “the relevant criminal conduct” is the criminal conduct
by reference to which the property concerned is criminal property.”
15
(4)
In section 329 (acquisition, use and possession), after subsection (2) insert—
“(2A)
Nor does a person commit an offence under subsection (1) if—
(a)
he knows, or believes on reasonable grounds, that the relevant
criminal conduct occurred in a particular country or territory
outside the United Kingdom, and
20
(b)
the relevant criminal conduct—
(i)
is not unlawful under the criminal law of that country or
territory, and
(ii)
is not of a description prescribed by an order made by
the Secretary of State.
25
(2B)
In subsection (2A) “the relevant criminal conduct” is the criminal
conduct by reference to which the property concerned is criminal
property.”
(5)
In section 330 (failure to disclose: regulated sector), after subsection (7) insert—
“(7A)
Nor does a person commit an offence under this section if—
30
(a)
he knows, or believes on reasonable grounds, that the money
laundering is occurring in a particular country or territory
outside the United Kingdom, and
(b)
the money laundering—
(i)
is not unlawful under the criminal law of that country or
35
territory, and
(ii)
is not of a description prescribed in an order made by
the Secretary of State.”
(6)
In section 331 (failure to disclose: nominated officers in the regulated sector),
after subsection (6) insert—
40
“(6A)
Nor does a person commit an offence under this section if—
(a)
he knows, or believes on reasonable grounds, that the money
laundering is occurring in a particular country or territory
outside the United Kingdom, and
(b)
the money laundering—
45

Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill
Part 2 — Investigations, prosecutions, proceedings and proceeds of crime
Chapter 6 — Proceeds of crime
64

(i)
is not unlawful under the criminal law of that country or
territory, and
(ii)
is not of a description prescribed in an order made by
the Secretary of State.”
(7)
In section 332 (failure to disclose: other nominated officers), after subsection (6)
5
insert—
“(7)
Nor does a person commit an offence under this section if—
(a)
he knows, or believes on reasonable grounds, that the money
laundering is occurring in a particular country or territory
outside the United Kingdom, and
10
(b)
the money laundering—
(i)
is not unlawful under the criminal law of that country or
territory, and
(ii)
is not of a description prescribed in an order made by
the Secretary of State.”
15
98
Money laundering: threshold amounts
(1)
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29) is amended as follows.
(2)
In section 327 (concealing etc.), after subsection (2B) (which is inserted by
section 97 of this Act) insert—
“(2C)
A deposit-taking body that does an act mentioned in paragraph (c) or
20
(d) of subsection (1) does not commit an offence under that subsection
if—
(a)
it does the act in operating an account maintained with it, and
(b)
the value of the criminal property concerned is less than the
threshold amount determined under section 339A for the act.”
25
(3)
In section 328 (arrangements), after subsection (4) (which is inserted by section
97 of this Act) insert—
“(5)
A deposit-taking body that does an act mentioned in subsection (1)
does not commit an offence under that subsection if—
(a)
it does the act in operating an account maintained with it, and
30
(b)
the arrangement facilitates the acquisition, retention, use or
control of criminal property of a value that is less than the
threshold amount determined under section 339A for the act.”
(4)
In section 329 (acquisition, use and possession), after subsection (2B) (which is
inserted by section 97 of this Act) insert—
35
“(2C)
A deposit-taking body that does an act mentioned in subsection (1)
does not commit an offence under that subsection if—
(a)
it does the act in operating an account maintained with it, and
(b)
the value of the criminal property concerned is less than the
threshold amount determined under section 339A for the act.”
40

Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill
Part 2 — Investigations, prosecutions, proceedings and proceeds of crime
Chapter 6 — Proceeds of crime
65

(5)
In Part 7 (money laundering), after section 339 insert—
“Threshold amounts
“339A
Threshold amounts
(1)
This section applies for the purposes of sections 327(2C), 328(5) and
329(2C).
5
(2)
The threshold amount for acts done by a deposit-taking body in
operating an account is £100 unless a higher amount is specified under
the following provisions of this section (in which event it is that higher
amount).
(3)
An officer of Revenue and Customs, or a constable, may specify the
10
threshold amount for acts done by a deposit-taking body in operating
an account—
(a)
when he gives consent, or gives notice refusing consent, to the
deposit-taking body’s doing of an act mentioned in section
327(1), 328(1) or 329(1) in opening, or operating, the account or
15
a related account, or
(b)
on a request from the deposit-taking body.
(4)
Where the threshold amount for acts done in operating an account is
specified under subsection (3) or this subsection, an officer of Revenue
and Customs, or a constable, may vary the amount (whether on a
20
request from the deposit-taking body or otherwise) by specifying a
different amount.
(5)
Different threshold amounts may be specified under subsections (3)
and (4) for different acts done in operating the same account.
(6)
The amount specified under subsection (3) or (4) as the threshold
25
amount for acts done in operating an account must, when specified, not
be less than the amount specified in subsection (2).
(7)
The Secretary of State may by order vary the amount for the time being
specified in subsection (2).
(8)
For the purposes of this section, an account is related to another if each
30
is maintained with the same deposit-taking body and there is a person
who, in relation to each account, is the person or one of the persons
entitled to instruct the body as respects the operation of the account.”
(6)
In section 340 (interpretation of Part 7), after subsection (13) insert—
“(14)
“Deposit-taking body” means—
35
(a)
a business which engages in the activity of accepting deposits,
or
(b)
the National Savings Bank.”
(7)
In section 459(4)(a) and (6)(a) (provision for certain orders to be subject to
affirmative procedure), after “309,” insert “339A(7),”.
40
99
Money laundering: disclosures to identify persons and property
(1)
In the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29), Part 7 (money laundering) is
amended as follows.