Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

[F1 195R Release of property N.I.

(1) This section applies in relation to property which—

(a) has been seized by an appropriate officer under section 195C, and

(b) is detained under or by virtue of any of sections 195J to 195M and 195P.

(2) The property must be released if at any time an appropriate officer decides that the detention condition is no longer met.

(3) The detention condition is met for so long as—

(a) any of the conditions in section 195B is met, and

(b) there are reasonable grounds for the suspicion mentioned in section 195C(1) [F2 or (5A)].

(4) Nothing in this section requires property to be released if there is a power to detain it otherwise than under or by virtue of sections 195J to 195M and 195P.

(5) Nothing in this section affects the operation of any power or duty to release property that arises apart from this section.

[F3 (6) If a cryptoasset-related item which has been released is not claimed within the period of a year beginning with the date on which it was released, the appropriate officer may—

(a) retain the item and deal with it as they see fit,

(b) dispose of the item, or

(c) destroy the item.

(7) The powers in subsection (6) may be exercised only—

(a) where the appropriate officer has taken reasonable steps to notify—

(i) the person from whom the item was seized, and

(ii) any other persons who the appropriate officer has reasonable grounds to believe have an interest in the item,

that the item has been released, and

(b) with the approval of a senior officer.

(8) “Senior officer” in subsection (7)(b) has the meaning given in section 195G(3).

(9) Any proceeds of a disposal of the item are to be paid into the Consolidated Fund.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 195A-195T and cross-headings inserted (22.11.2014 for the insertion of ss. 195S(1)-(5), 195T(1)-(7) for specified purposes, 1.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 57(2), 116(1) (as amended by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2595), arts. 1(2), 18(2)(m) (with arts. 24-28); S.I. 2014/3101, art. 3; S.I. 2016/147, art. 3(b))

F2 Words in s. 195R(3)(b) inserted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), s. 219(2)(b)(5)(a), Sch. 8 para. 40

F3 S. 195R(6)-(9) inserted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), s. 219(2)(b)(5)(a), Sch. 8 para. 44