Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

[F1 Forfeiture orders U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 5 Ch. 3B inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 30.1.2018 for the insertion of ss. 303Z2(4), 303Z10 for E.W.S. so far as not already in force, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), ss. 16, 58(1)(6); S.I. 2018/78, regs. 2(b), 3(d)

303Z14 Forfeiture order U.K.

(1) This section applies while an account freezing order has effect.

In this section the account to which the account freezing order applies is “the frozen account”.

(2) An application for the forfeiture of money held in the frozen account (whether all or part of the credit balance of the account) may be made—

(a) to a magistrates' court by a person specified in subsection (3), or

(b) to the sheriff by the Scottish Ministers.

(3) The persons referred to in subsection (2)(a) are—

(a) the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs,

(b) a constable,

(c) an SFO officer, or

(d) an accredited financial investigator who falls within a description specified in an order made for the purposes of this Chapter by the Secretary of State under section 453.

(4) The court or sheriff may order the forfeiture of the money or any part of it if satisfied that the money or part—

(a) is recoverable property, or

(b) is intended by any person for use in unlawful conduct.

(5) But in the case of recoverable property which belongs to joint tenants, one of whom is an excepted joint owner, an order by a magistrates' court may not apply to so much of it as the court thinks is attributable to the excepted joint owner's share.

(6) Where an application is made under subsection (2), the account freezing order is to continue to have effect until the time referred to in subsection (7)(b) or (8).

But subsections (7)(b) and (8) are subject to section 303Z15.

(7) Where money held in a frozen account is ordered to be forfeited under subsection (4)—

(a) the [F2 relevant financial institution] with which the frozen account is maintained must transfer that amount of money into an interest-bearing account nominated by an enforcement officer, and

(b) immediately after the transfer has been made the account freezing order made in relation to the frozen account ceases to have effect.

(8) Where, other than by the making of an order under subsection (4), an application under subsection (2) is determined or otherwise disposed of, the account freezing order ceases to have effect immediately after that determination or other disposal.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 303Z14(7)(a) substituted (retrospectively except as it extends to N.I.) by Financial Services Act 2021 (c. 22), s. 33(2)(3), Sch. 12 para. 20 (with s. 33(4))

303Z15 Continuation of account freezing order pending appeal U.K.

(1) This section applies where, on an application under subsection (2) of section 303Z14 in relation to an account to which an account freezing order applies, the court or sheriff decides—

(a) to make an order under subsection (4) of that section in relation to part only of the money to which the application related, or

(b) not to make an order under subsection (4) of that section.

(2) The person who made the application under section 303Z14(2) may apply without notice to the court or sheriff that made the decision referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b) for an order that the account freezing order is to continue to have effect.

(3) Where the court or sheriff makes an order under subsection (2) the account freezing order is to continue to have effect until—

(a) the end of the period of 48 hours starting with the making of the order under subsection (2), or

(b) if within that period of 48 hours an appeal is brought under section 303Z16 against the decision referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b), the time when the appeal is determined or otherwise disposed of.

(4) Subsection (9) of section 303Z11 applies for the purposes of subsection (3) as it applies for the purposes of that section.

303Z16 Appeal against decision under section 303Z14 U.K.

(1) Any party to proceedings for an order for the forfeiture of money under section 303Z14 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) from an order or decision of a magistrates' court in England and Wales, to the Crown Court;

(b) from an order or decision of the sheriff, to the Sheriff Appeal Court;

(c) from an order or decision of a magistrates' court in 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.

(4) If the court upholds an appeal against an order forfeiting the money, it may order the release of the whole or any part of the money.

(5) Where money is released by virtue of subsection (4), there must be added to the money on its release any interest accrued on it whilst in the account referred to in section 303Z14(7)(a).

303Z17 Application of money forfeited under account forfeiture order U.K.

(1) Money forfeited by an order under section 303Z14, and any interest accrued on it whilst in the account referred to in subsection (7)(a) of that section—

(a) if forfeited by a magistrates' court, is to be paid into the Consolidated Fund, and

(b) if forfeited by the sheriff, is to be paid into the Scottish Consolidated Fund.

(2) But it is not to be paid in—

(a) before the end of the period within which an appeal under section 303Z16 may be made, or

(b) if a person appeals under that section, before the appeal is determined or otherwise disposed of.]