Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

278 Limit on recovery U.K.

(1) This section applies if the enforcement authority seeks a recovery order—

(a) in respect of both property which is or represents property obtained through unlawful conduct and related property, or

(b) in respect of property which is or represents property obtained through unlawful conduct where such an order, or an order under section 276, has previously been made in respect of related property.

(2) For the purposes of this section—

(a) the original property means the property obtained through unlawful conduct,

(b) the original property, and any items of property which represent the original property, are to be treated as related to each other.

(3) The court is not to make a recovery order if it thinks that the enforcement authority’s right to recover the original property has been satisfied by a previous recovery order or order under section 276.

(4) Subject to subsection (3), the court may act under subsection (5) if it thinks that—

(a) a recovery order may be made in respect of two or more related items of recoverable property, but

(b) the making of a recovery order in respect of both or all of them is not required in order to satisfy the enforcement authority’s right to recover the original property.

(5) The court may in order to satisfy that right to the extent required make a recovery order in respect of—

(a) only some of the related items of property, or

(b) only a part of any of the related items of property,

or both.

(6) Where the court may make a recovery order in respect of any property, this section does not prevent the recovery of any profits which have accrued in respect of the property.

[F1 (6A) If—

(a) recoverable property is forfeited in pursuance of a forfeiture notice under section 297A [F2 or an account forfeiture notice under section 303Z9], and

(b) the enforcement authority subsequently seeks a recovery order in respect of related property,

the [F3 notice] is to be treated for the purposes of this section as if it were a recovery order obtained by the enforcement authority in respect of the forfeited property.]

(7) If—

(a) an order is made under section 298 [F4 , 303O [F5 , 303R] [F6 or 303Z14] [F6 , 303Z14, 303Z41, 303Z45 or 303Z60]] for the forfeiture of recoverable property, and

(b) the enforcement authority subsequently seeks a recovery order in respect of related property,

the order under [F7 that section] is to be treated for the purposes of this section as if it were a recovery order obtained by the enforcement authority in respect of the forfeited property.

[F8 (7A) If—

(a) an order is made under section 303Q instead of an order being made under section 303O for the forfeiture of recoverable property, and

(b) the enforcement authority subsequently seeks a recovery order in respect of related property,

the order under section 303Q is to be treated for the purposes of this section as if it were a recovery order obtained by the enforcement authority in respect of the property that was the forfeitable property in relation to the order under section 303Q.]

[F9 (7B) If—

(a) an order is made under section 303Z44 instead of an order being made under section 303Z41 for the forfeiture of recoverable property, and

(b) the enforcement authority subsequently seeks a recovery order in respect of related property,

the order under section 303Z44 is to be treated for the purposes of this section as if it were a recovery order obtained by the enforcement authority in respect of the property that was the forfeitable property in relation to the order under section 303Z44.]

(8) If—

(a) in pursuance of a judgment in civil proceedings (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere), the claimant has obtained property from the defendant (“the judgment property”),

(b) the claim was based on the defendant’s having obtained the judgment property or related property through unlawful conduct, and

(c) the enforcement authority subsequently seeks a recovery order in respect of property which is related to the judgment property,

the judgment is to be treated for the purposes of this section as if it were a recovery order obtained by the enforcement authority in respect of the judgment property.

In relation to Scotland, “claimant” and “defendant” are to be read as “pursuer” and “defender”.

(9) If—

(a) property has been taken into account in deciding the amount of a person’s benefit from criminal conduct for the purpose of making a confiscation order, and

(b) the enforcement authority subsequently seeks a recovery order in respect of related property,

the confiscation order is to be treated for the purposes of this section as if it were a recovery order obtained by the enforcement authority in respect of the property referred to in paragraph (a).

(10) In subsection (9), a confiscation order means—

(a) an order under section 6, 92 or 156, or

(b) an order under a corresponding provision of an enactment mentioned in section 8(7)(a) to (g),

and, in relation to an order mentioned in paragraph (b), the reference to the amount of a person’s benefit from criminal conduct is to be read as a reference to the corresponding amount under the enactment in question.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 278(6A) inserted (1.6.2015) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), s. 116(1), Sch. 7 para. 106; S.I. 2015/983, arts. 2(2)(e), 3(ff)

F2 Words in s. 278(6A)(a) inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. for specified purposes, 16.4.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 30(2)(a); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(3)(a)(i)(ii); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(g)

F3 Words in s. 278(6A) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. for specified purposes, 16.4.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 30(2)(b); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(3)(a)(i)(ii); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(g)

F4 Words in s. 278(7)(a) inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. for specified purposes, 16.4.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 30(3)(a); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(3)(a)(i)(ii); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(g)

F5 Word in s. 278(7)(a) inserted (31.1.2018) by The Criminal Finances Act 2017 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/80), regs. 1, 2

F6 Words in s. 278(7)(a) substituted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), s. 219(1)(2)(b), Sch. 9 para. 6(2)(a)

F7 Words in s. 278(7) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. for specified purposes, 16.4.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 30(3)(b); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(3)(a)(i)(ii); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(g)

F8 S. 278(7A) inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. for specified purposes, 16.4.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 30(4); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(3)(a)(i)(ii); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(g)

F9 S. 278(7B) inserted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), s. 219(1)(2)(b), Sch. 9 para. 6(2)(b)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 278 in force at 24.2.2003 by S.I. 2003/120, art. 2, Sch. (with arts. 3, 4) (as amended (20.2.2003) by S.I. 2003/333, art. 14)