Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29)

Part 8 U.K. Investigations

Chapter 2 E+W+N.I. England and Wales and Northern Ireland

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 8 Ch. 2: power to modify conferred (20.3.2015) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), ss. 47, 61(2); S.I. 2015/813, art. 2(b)

[F1 Unexplained wealth orders: interim freezing of property E+W+N.I.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 362J 362R and cross-heading inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W. 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), ss. 2, 58(1)(6); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 3(a); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 2(1)(a)

362K Variation and discharge of interim freezing order E+W+N.I.

(1) The High Court may at any time vary or discharge an interim freezing order.

(2) The High Court must discharge an interim freezing order, so far as it has effect in relation to any property, in each of the following three cases.

(3) The first case is where—

(a) the applicable 48 hour period has ended, and

(b) a relevant application has not been made before the end of that period in relation to the property concerned.

(4) The second case is where—

(a) a relevant application has been made before the end of the applicable 48 hour period in relation to the property concerned, and

(b) proceedings on the application (including any on appeal) have been determined or otherwise disposed of.

(5) The third case is where the court has received a notification in relation to the property concerned under section 362D(4) (notification from enforcement authority of no further proceedings).

(6) The “applicable 48 hour period” is to be read as follows—

(a) in a case where the respondent complies, or purports to comply, with the requirements imposed by an unexplained wealth order before the end of the response period, it is the period of 48 hours beginning with the day after the day with which the [F2 determination period (see section 362D(3))] ends;

(b) in any other case, it is the period of 48 hours beginning with the day after the day with which the response period ends.

(7) In calculating a period of 48 hours for the purposes of subsection (6), no account is to be taken of—

(a) any Saturday or Sunday,

(b) Christmas Day,

(c) Good Friday, or

(d) any day that is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in the part of the United Kingdom in which the interim freezing order concerned is made.

(8) Section 362D(7) applies for the purposes of subsection (6) in determining whether a person complies, or purports to comply, with the requirements imposed by an unexplained wealth order and when such compliance, or purported compliance, takes place.

(9) Before exercising power under this section to vary or discharge an interim freezing order, the court must (as well as giving the parties to the proceedings an opportunity to be heard) give such an opportunity to any person who may be affected by its decision.

(10) Subsection (9) does not apply where the court is acting as required by subsection (2).

(11) In this section—

• “relevant application” means an application for—

  (a)

  a restraint order under section 41 or 190,

  (b)

  a property freezing order, or

  (c)

  an interim receiving order;

• “response period” has the meaning given by section 362C(4).]

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 362K(6)(a) substituted (15.5.2022) by Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (c. 10), ss. 49(4), 69(1); S.I. 2022/519, regs. 1(3), 2