(1)The High Court may exercise the powers conferred by section 190 if any of the following conditions is satisfied.
(2)The first condition is that—
(a)a criminal investigation has been started in Northern Ireland with regard to an offence, and
(b)there is reasonable cause to believe that the alleged offender has benefited from his criminal conduct.
(3)The second condition is that—
(a)proceedings for an offence have been started in Northern Ireland and not concluded,
(b)there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant has benefited from his criminal conduct.
(4)The third condition is that—
(a)an application by the prosecutor or the Director has been made under section 169, 170, 177 or 178 and not concluded, or the court believes that such an application is to be made, and
(b)there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant has benefited from his criminal conduct.
(5)The fourth condition is that—
(a)an application by the prosecutor or the Director has been made under section 171 and not concluded, or the court believes that such an application is to be made, and
(b)there is reasonable cause to believe that the court will decide under that section that the amount found under the new calculation of the defendant’s benefit exceeds the relevant amount (as defined in that section).
(6)The fifth condition is that—
(a)an application by the prosecutor or the Director has been made under section 172 and not concluded, or the court believes that such an application is to be made, and
(b)there is reasonable cause to believe that the court will decide under that section that the amount found under the new calculation of the available amount exceeds the relevant amount (as defined in that section).
(7)The second condition is not satisfied if the court believes that—
(a)there has been undue delay in continuing the proceedings, or
(b)the prosecutor does not intend to proceed.
(8)If an application mentioned in the third, fourth or fifth condition has been made the condition is not satisfied if the court believes that—
(a)there has been undue delay in continuing the application, or
(b)the prosecutor or the Director (as the case may be) does not intend to proceed.
(9)If the first condition is satisfied—
(a)references in this Part to the defendant are to the alleged offender;
(b)references in this Part to the prosecutor are to the person the court believes is to have conduct of any proceedings for the offence;
(c)section 225(9) has effect as if proceedings for the offence had been started against the defendant when the investigation was started.
(1)If any condition set out in section 189 is satisfied the High Court may make an order (a restraint order) prohibiting any specified person from dealing with any realisable property held by him.
(2)A restraint order may provide that it applies—
(a)to all realisable property held by the specified person whether or not the property is described in the order;
(b)to realisable property transferred to the specified person after the order is made.
(3)A restraint order may be made subject to exceptions, and an exception may in particular—
(a)make provision for reasonable living expenses and reasonable legal expenses;
(b)make provision for the purpose of enabling any person to carry on any trade, business, profession or occupation;
(c)be made subject to conditions.
(4)But an exception to a restraint order may not make provision for any legal expenses which—
(a)relate to an offence which falls within subsection (5), and
(b)are incurred by the defendant or by a recipient of a tainted gift.
(5)These offences fall within this subsection—
(a)the offence mentioned in section 189(2) or (3), if the first or second condition (as the case may be) is satisfied;
(b)the offence (or any of the offences) concerned, if the third, fourth or fifth condition is satisfied.
(6)Subsection (7) applies if—
(a)the court makes a restraint order, and
(b)the applicant for the order applies to the court to proceed under subsection (7) (whether as part of the application for the restraint order or at any time afterwards).
(7)The court may make such order as it believes is appropriate for the purpose of ensuring that the restraint order is effective.
(8)A restraint order does not affect property for the time being subject to a charge under any of these provisions—
(a)section 9 of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 (c. 32);
(b)section 78 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33);
(c)Article 14 of the Criminal Justice (Confiscation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 (S.I. 1990/2588 (N.I. 17));
(d)section 27 of the Drug Trafficking Act 1994 (c. 37);
(e)Article 32 of the Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/1299 (N.I. 9)).
(9)Dealing with property includes removing it from Northern Ireland.
(1)A restraint order—
(a)may be made only on an application by an applicant falling within subsection (2);
(b)may be made on an ex parte application to a judge in chambers.
(2)These applicants fall within this subsection—
(a)the prosecutor;
(b)the Director;
(c)an accredited financial investigator.
(3)An application to discharge or vary a restraint order or an order under section 190(7) may be made to the High Court by—
(a)the person who applied for the order;
(b)any person affected by the order.
(4)Subsections (5) to (7) apply to an application under subsection (3).
(5)The court—
(a)may discharge the order;
(b)may vary the order.
(6)If the condition in section 189 which was satisfied was that proceedings were started or an application was made, the court must discharge the order on the conclusion of the proceedings or of the application (as the case may be).
(7)If the condition in section 189 which was satisfied was that an investigation was started or an application was to be made, the court must discharge the order if within a reasonable time proceedings for the offence are not started or the application is not made (as the case may be).
(1)If on an application for a restraint order the court decides not to make one, the person who applied for the order may appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision.
(2)If an application is made under section 191(3) in relation to a restraint order or an order under section 190(7) the following persons may appeal to the Court of Appeal in respect of the High Court’s decision on the application—
(a)the person who applied for the order;
(b)any person affected by the order.
(3)On an appeal under subsection (1) or (2) the Court of Appeal may—
(a)confirm the decision, or
(b)make such order as it believes is appropriate.
(1)An appeal lies to the House of Lords from a decision of the Court of Appeal on an appeal under section 192.
(2)An appeal under this section lies at the instance of any person who was a party to the proceedings before the Court of Appeal.
(3)On an appeal under this section the House of Lords may—
(a)confirm the decision of the Court of Appeal, or
(b)make such order as it believes is appropriate.
(1)If a restraint order is in force a constable or a customs officer may seize any realisable property to which it applies to prevent its removal from Northern Ireland.
(2)Property seized under subsection (1) must be dealt with in accordance with the directions of the court which made the order.
(1)The person applying for a restraint order must be treated for the purposes of section 66 of the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 (c. 18 (N.I.)) (cautions) as a person interested in relation to any registered land to which—
(a)the application relates, or
(b)a restraint order made in pursuance of the application relates.
(2)Upon being served with a copy of a restraint order, the Registrar shall, in respect of any registered land to which a restraint order or an application for a restraint order relates, make an entry inhibiting any dealing with the land without the consent of the High Court.
(3)Subsections (2) and (4) of section 67 of the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 (inhibitions) shall apply to an entry made under subsection (2) as they apply to an entry made on the application of any person interested in the registered land under subsection (1) of that section.
(4)Where a restraint order has been protected by an entry registered under the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 or the Registration of Deeds Acts, an order discharging the restraint order may require that the entry be vacated.
(5)In this section—
“Registrar” and “entry” have the same meanings as in the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970; and
“Registration of Deeds Acts” has the meaning given by section 46(2) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33 (N.I.)).