Part XI

Information Gathering and Investigations

Conduct of investigations

Investigations: general.
170
1
This section applies if an investigating authority appoints one or more competent persons (“investigators”) under section 167 or 168(3) or (5) to conduct an investigation on its behalf.
2
The investigating authority must give written notice of the appointment of an investigator to the person who is the subject of the investigation (“the person under investigation”).
3
Subsections (2) and (9) do not apply if —
a
the investigator is appointed as a result of section 168(1) , (4) or (4B) and the investigating authority believes that the notice required by subsection (2) or (9) would be likely to result in the investigation being frustrated; or
b
the investigator is appointed as a result of subsection (2) of section 168.
4
A notice under subsection (2) must—
a
specify the provisions under which, and as a result of which, the investigator was appointed; and
b
state the reason for his appointment.
5
Nothing prevents the investigating authority from appointing a person who is a member of its staff as an investigator.
6
An investigator must make a report of his investigation to the investigating authority.
7
The investigating authority may, by a direction to an investigator, control—
a
the scope of the investigation;
b
the period during which the investigation is to be conducted;
c
the conduct of the investigation; and
d
the reporting of the investigation.
8
A direction may, in particular—
a
confine the investigation to particular matters;
b
extend the investigation to additional matters;
c
require the investigator to discontinue the investigation or to take only such steps as are specified in the direction;
d
require the investigator to make such interim reports as are so specified.
9
If there is a change in the scope or conduct of the investigation and, in the opinion of the investigating authority, the person subject to investigation is likely to be significantly prejudiced by not being made aware of it, that person must be given written notice of the change.
10
“Investigating authority”, in relation to an investigator, means—
a
the FCA, if the FCA appointed the investigator;
aa
the PRA, if the PRA appointed the investigator;
b
the Secretary of State, if the Secretary of State appointed the investigator.
Pt. 11 modified (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2657, arts. 1(1), 18(2) (which was revoked (8.10.2001) by S.I. 2001/3083, arts. 1(2), 23); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)
Pt. 11 modified (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3083, arts. 1(2), 18(2)(4); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)
Pt. 11 extended (with modifications) (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3646, arts. 1(1), 6-9
S. 170(5)-(9) applied (1.12.2001 for E.W.S. and 1.11.2004 for N.I.) by S.I. 2001/1228, regs. 1(2)(c), 30(4) (with 1(2)(3)); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1); S.R. 2004/335, regs. 1(1)(b), 30(4) (with reg. 1(2))
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (1.5.2009 for certain purposes and 1.11.2009 otherwise) by The Payment Services Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/209), regs. 1(2), 95, Sch. 5 para. 3 (with reg. 3) (as amended (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 155(6)(c) (with Sch. 2 para. 156); and (26.6.2017) by The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/692), reg. 1(2), Sch. 7 para. 24(9) (with regs. 8, 15))
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (11.2.2010) by The Cross-Border Payments in Euro Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/89), reg. 19, Sch. para. 2
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (15.1.2013) by The Payments in Euro (Credit Transfers and Direct Debits) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3122), reg. 1, Sch. para. 2 (as amended (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 248(6)(b))
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (12.12.2014) by The Immigration Act 2014 (Bank Accounts) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/3085), regs. 1, 14
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (1.1.2016) by The Small and Medium Sized Business (Finance Platforms) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1946), regs. 1(2), 23
S. 170(4)-(8) applied (with modifications) (1.1.2014) by The Capital Requirements Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/3115), regs. 1(2), 14
Pt. 11 modified (15.7.2025 for specified purposes) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities etc.) (Amendment) Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/859), arts. 1(2)(3), 10(6)
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (3.11.2025) by S.I. 2024/105, reg. 44(5) (as substituted by The Public Offers and Admissions to Trading (Amendment and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1076), regs. 1(2), 2)
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (30.1.2024 for specified purposes, 1.11.2024 in so far as not already in force) by The Securitisation Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/102), reg. 2(1)(e)(2), Sch. 1 para. 10 (with reg. 52(3), Sch. 3); as amended by S.I. 2024/705, regs. 1(2), 2(2)
S. 170(1)(2) applied (with modifications) (1.1.2014) by The Capital Requirements Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/3115), regs. 1(2), 14
Pt. 11 applied in part (with modifications) (31.12.2020) by The Over the Counter Derivatives, Central Counterparties and Trade Repositories (Amendment, etc., and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/335), regs. 1(1), 75 (with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
S. 170(10)(a)-(b) substituted for s. 170(10)(a)(b) (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (c. 21), s. 122(3), Sch. 12 para. 11 (with Sch. 20); S.I. 2013/423, art. 3, Sch.
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (1.1.2018) by The Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1127), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 2
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (10.6.2019) by The Proxy Advisors (Shareholders Rights) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/926), regs. 1, 20, 22 (as amended by S.I. 2020/628, regs. 1(4), 15(5))
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (31.12.2020) by The Credit Rating Agencies (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/266), regs. 1(3), 18(1) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1384, regs. 1(4), 50(3)) (with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Pt. 11 modified (E.W.S.) (29.11.2018 for specified purposes, 1.4.2019 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Claims Management Activity) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1253), arts. 1(2)(3), 82(13)
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (27.2.2018) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Benchmarks) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/135), regs. 1(2), 19
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (13.1.2018) by The Payment Services Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/752), reg. 1(6), Sch. 6 para. 4 (with reg. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2018/1201, reg. 1(3), Sch. 2 para. 72(3) (with reg. 4, Sch. 3 Pt. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2020/56, regs. 1, 8); and (29.8.2023) by Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (c. 29), s. 86(3), Sch. 2 para. 72(b) (with s. 2(3)); S.I. 2023/779, reg. 4(zz)(iv))
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (30.1.2024 for specified purposes) by The Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/105), regs. 2(2)(3), 44(4) (with regs. 48-50)
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (30.1.2024 for specified purposes) by The Securitisation Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/102), reg. 2(1)(e)(2), Sch. 1 para. 10 (with reg. 52(3), Sch. 3)
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (3.7.2017 for specified purposes, 3.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by The Data Reporting Services Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/699), regs. 1(2)(a)(b), 33
Ss. 170-175 applied (8.6.2023 for specified purposes, 7.10.2023 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) (Amendment) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/612), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 1(j) (with art. 11)
S. 170 applied (31.5.2021) by The Civil Liability Act 2018 (Financial Conduct Authority) (Whiplash) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/594), regs. 1, 2(4)(d)
Pt. 11 modified (temp. to 1.4.2014) (31.12.2013) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Consumer Credit) (Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/3128), arts. 1(1), 4(1)(2)
Pt. 11 applied in part (with modifications) (31.12.2020) by The Transparency of Securities Financing Transactions and of Reuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/542), regs. 1, 36 (with savings in S.I. 2019/680, reg. 11); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in s. 170(3)(a) substituted (14.1.2025) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Designated Activities) (Supervision and Enforcement) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/22), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 10
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (1.1.2019) by The Securitisation Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1288), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 3 (with Sch. 1 paras. 13, 14)
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (1.1.2016) by The Small and Medium Sized Business (Credit Information) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1945), regs. 1(2), 26
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (29.6.2017 for specified purposes, 3.7.2017 for specified purposes, 31.7.2017 for specified purposes, 3.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/701), reg. 1(2)(3)(4)(6), Sch. 1 para. 19(1) (with reg. 7)
S. 170 applied (22.7.2013) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1773), regs. 1, 71(2)(b)
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (9.7.2013) by The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Referral Fees) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1635), regs. 1, 13
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (18.9.2016) by The Payment Accounts Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/2038), reg. 1(2)(b), Sch. 7 para. 2
S. 170 applied (with modifications) (14.1.2025 for specified purposes) by The Short Selling Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/29), regs. 2(2)(3), 24, 25, Sch. 1 Pts. 1, 2
S. 170 applied (20.4.2015 for specified purposes, 21.12.2015 for specified purposes, 21.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by The Mortgage Credit Directive Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/910), arts. 1(5), 23(2)(f) (with Pt. 4)
Pt. 11 modified (10.5.2018) by Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018 (c. 10), s. 37(1)(f), Sch. 5 para. 1
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (26.7.2013 for specified purposes, 1.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consumer Credit) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1882), arts. 1(1), 3(5)
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (30.4.2011) by The Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/99), reg. 62, Sch. 3 para. 3 (with reg. 3) (as amended (1.4.2013) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), Sch. 2 para. 196(5)(c); and (14.2.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/366), arts. 1(4), 18(4)(b); and (10.1.2020) by The Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1511), regs. 1(2), 19 and (31.12.2020) by S.I. 2018/1201, reg. 1(3), Sch. 2 para. 21(3)(a)-(c) (with reg. 4, Sch. 3 Pt. 1) (with further transitional provisions in Sch. 3 Pt. 1A as inserted by S.I. 2019/405, regs. 1, 10 and as amended by S.I. 2019/1010, regs. 1(3), 7; S.I. 2019/1212, regs. 1(2), 7; and S.I. 2020/56, regs. 1, 8) and (29.8.2023) by Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (c. 29), s. 86(3), Sch. 2 para. 62(b) (with s. 2(3)); S.I. 2023/779, reg. 4(zz)(iv))
Pt. 11 applied (with modifications) (5.4.2024) by The Data Reporting Services Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/107), regs. 1(2), 18; S.I. 2023/1382, reg. 4(c)