Crime and Policing Act 2026

Prospective

Exception to restraint orders for reasonable legal expenses N.I.

23 (1) The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 190 (restraint orders), in subsection (4), for the words before paragraph (a) substitute “Section 190ZA applies to an exception to a restraint order if the exception makes provision for any reasonable legal expenses which—”.

(3) After section 190 insert—

“190ZA Exception for legal expenses in respect of offence with which confiscation proceedings concerned

(1) Where the court makes an exception to a restraint order under section 190(3) to which this section applies, it must ensure that the exception—

(a) is limited to legal expenses that the specified person has reasonably incurred or that the person reasonably incurs,

(b) specifies the total amount that may be released for legal expenses in pursuance of the exception, and

(c) is made subject to the required conditions (in addition to any conditions imposed under section 190(3)(c)).

(2) The Department of Justice in Northern Ireland may by regulations specify the required conditions for the purposes of subsection (1).

(3) A required condition may, in particular—

(a) restrict who may receive sums released in pursuance of the exception (by, for example, requiring released sums to be paid to professional legal advisers), or

(b) be made for the purpose of controlling the amount of any sum released in pursuance of the exception in respect of an item of expenditure.

(4) A required condition made for the purpose mentioned in subsection (3)(b) may, for example, provide for a sum to be released in respect of an item of expenditure only if—

(a) the court has assessed the amount allowed by the regulations in respect of that item, and

(b) the sum is released for payment of the assessed amount.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4), the regulations may, in particular, make provision—

(a) limiting the amount of remuneration allowable to representatives for a unit of time worked;

(b) limiting the total amount of remuneration allowable to representatives for work done in connection with proceedings or a step in proceedings;

(c) limiting the amount allowable in respect of an item of expenditure incurred by a representative or incurred, otherwise than in respect of the remuneration of a representative, by a party to proceedings.

(6) Before making regulations under this section, the Department of Justice must consult such persons as the Department of Justice considers appropriate.”

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 22 para. 23 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 255(8)(m)