The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Investigations) Order 2013

[F1 Unexplained wealth orders F2 ... E+W+N.I.

21A.— (1) The High Court may, on an application made by an enforcement authority (see article 2(12) (interpretation)), make an unexplained wealth order in respect of any property if the court is satisfied that each of the requirements for making the order is fulfilled.

(2) An application for the order must—

(a) specify or describe the property in respect of which the order is sought, and

(b) specify the person F3 ... whom the enforcement authority thinks holds the property (“the respondent”).

[F4 (2A) In a case where the respondent is not an individual, the application may also specify a person who is a responsible officer of the respondent (and a person specified may include a person who is outside the United Kingdom).]

(3) An application for an unexplained wealth order may be made without notice.

(4) An unexplained wealth order is an order requiring the respondent [F5 or any responsible officer specified in the order (a “specified responsible officer”)] to provide a statement—

(a) setting out the nature and extent of the respondent’s interest in the property in respect of which the order is made,

(b) explaining how the respondent obtained the property (including, in particular, how any costs incurred in obtaining it were met),

(c) where the property is held by the trustees of a settlement, setting out such details of the settlement as may be specified in the order, and

(d) setting out such other information in connection with the property as may be so specified.

(5) The order must specify—

(a) the form and manner in which the statement is to be given,

(b) the person to whom it is to be given, and

(c) the place at which it is to be given or, if it is to be given in writing, the address to which it is to be sent.

(6) The order may, in connection with requiring the respondent [F6 or any specified responsible officer] to provide the statement mentioned in paragraph (4), also [F7 require them] to produce documents of a kind specified or described in the order.

(7) The respondent [F8 or any specified responsible officer] must comply with the requirements imposed by an unexplained wealth order within whatever period the court may specify (and different periods may be specified in relation to different requirements).

(8) For the purposes of this article and article 21B (requirements for making of unexplained wealth order), property is held by a person if that person holds an interest in it (see also article 21G (holding of property: trusts and company arrangements etc.)).]

[F9 (9) For the purposes of this Part, each of the following is a “responsible officer” of the respondent (in a case where the respondent is not an individual)—

(a) any director of the respondent, including any person occupying the position of a director, by whatever name called;

(b) any member of a body of the respondent equivalent to a board of directors;

(c) any other manager, secretary or similar officer of the respondent;

(d) where the respondent is a partnership, a partner or a member of the partnership;

(e) any person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the board of directors or equivalent body of the respondent are accustomed to act.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Arts. 21A-21G inserted (12.11.2018) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Investigations and External Orders and Requests) (Amendment) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1078), arts. 1(2), 7

F2 Words in art. 21A heading omitted (28.6.2021) by virtue of The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Investigations and External Orders and Requests) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/638), arts. 1(2), 44(a)

F3 Words in art. 21A(2) omitted (28.6.2021) by virtue of The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Investigations and External Orders and Requests) (Amendment) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/638), arts. 1(2), 44(b)

F4 Art. 21A(2A) inserted (26.4.2025) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Investigations and External Orders and Requests) (Amendment) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/1127), arts. 1(2), 16(1)(a)

F5 Words in art. 21A(4) inserted (26.4.2025) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Investigations and External Orders and Requests) (Amendment) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/1127), arts. 1(2), 16(1)(b)

F6 Words in art. 21A(6) inserted (26.4.2025) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Investigations and External Orders and Requests) (Amendment) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/1127), arts. 1(2), 16(1)(c)(i)

F7 Words in art. 21A(6) substituted (26.4.2025) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Investigations and External Orders and Requests) (Amendment) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/1127), arts. 1(2), 16(1)(c)(ii)

F8 Words in art. 21A(7) inserted (26.4.2025) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Investigations and External Orders and Requests) (Amendment) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/1127), arts. 1(2), 16(1)(d)

F9 Art. 21A(9) inserted (26.4.2025) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Investigations and External Orders and Requests) (Amendment) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/1127), arts. 1(2), 16(1)(e)