The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Designated Countries and Territories) Order 1991

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order provides that, subject to certain modifications, Part VI of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 applies to an order made by a court of a designated country or territory for the purposes of recovering property obtained as a result of or in connection with conduct corresponding to an offence to which Part VI of the Act applies, recovering the value of property so obtained or depriving a person of a pecuniary advantage so obtained. Part VI of the Act as modified will also apply to proceedings which have been or are to be instituted in a designated country or territory and may result in such an order being made there. Offences to which Part VI of the Act apply are indictable offences (other than drug trafficking offences and offences under Part III of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989) and certain exceptional summary maxima offences.

Article 3 of the Order designates the countries and territories listed in Schedule 1 for the purposes of enforcement of confiscation orders, and applies the provisions of Part VI of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, with modifications, to confiscation orders of courts of those countries and territories and proceedings which may lead to such an order being made. The modifications to Part VI are set out in Schedule 2 to this Order, and Schedule 3 sets out in full Part VI as so modified.

Articles 4 and 5 provide for the proof of orders and judgments of courts of designated countries and as to evidence in relation to proceedings and orders in designated countries. Article 6 provides for the representation of the government of a designated country.

Article 7 of the Order provides that the value of any property recovered in a designated country or territory in response to a request by the Government of the United Kingdom for assistance in the enforcement of an order is to be treated as reducing the amount payable in England and Wales under a confiscation order made by the Crown Court or a magistrates' court. Article 8 provides for currency conversion.