The Criminal Procedure Rules 2020

Content of application for a disclosure order or F1 ... information order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 E+W

47.20.—(1) As well as complying with rules 47.6 and 47.17, an applicant who wants the court to make a disclosure order must—

(a) describe in general terms the information that the applicant wants [F2 a person] to provide;

(b) confirm that none of the information is—

(i) expected to be subject to legal privilege, or

(ii) excluded material;

(c) explain why the information is likely to be of substantial value to the investigation;

(d) explain why it is in the public interest for the information to be provided, having regard to the benefit likely to accrue to the investigation if it is obtained; and

(e) propose the terms of the order.

(2) As well as complying with rule 47.6, an applicant who wants the court to make [F3 an] information order must—

(a) identify the respondent from whom the information is sought and explain—

(i) whether the respondent is the person who made the disclosure to which the information relates or is otherwise carrying on a business in the regulated sector within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002(1), and

(ii) why the applicant thinks that the information is in the possession, or under the control, of the respondent;

(b) specify or describe the information that the applicant wants the respondent to provide;

(c) where the information sought relates to a disclosure of information under Part 7 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Money laundering), explain—

(i) how the information sought relates to a matter arising from that disclosure,

(ii) how the information would assist in investigating whether a person is engaged in money laundering or in determining whether an investigation of that kind should be started, and

(iii) why it is reasonable in all the circumstances for the information to be provided;

(d) where the information sought relates to a disclosure made under a requirement of the law of a country outside the United Kingdom which corresponds with Part 7 of the 2002 Act, and an authority in that country which investigates money laundering has asked the National Crime Agency for information in connection with that disclosure, explain—

(i) how the information sought relates to a matter arising from that disclosure,

(ii) why the information is likely to be of substantial value to the authority that made the request in determining any matter in connection with the disclosure, and

(iii) why it is reasonable in all the circumstances for the information to be provided;

[F4 (e) where the information sought is to assist the National Crime Agency to conduct analysis for the purposes of the Agency’s criminal intelligence function so far as that relates to money laundering—

(i) explain how the information would assist the Agency to conduct that analysis,

(ii) demonstrate that the applicant has had regard to the code of practice under section 339ZL of the 2002 Act, and

(iii) explain why it is reasonable in all the circumstances for the information to be provided;

(f) where the information sought is to assist a financial intelligence unit in a country outside the United Kingdom to conduct analysis concerned with money laundering, following a request by that unit to the National Crime Agency—

(i) explain how the information is likely to be of substantial value to that financial intelligence unit in carrying out that analysis,

(ii) demonstrate that the applicant has had regard to the code of practice under section 339ZL of the 2002 Act, and

(iii) explain why it is reasonable in all the circumstances for the information to be provided; and]

[F5 (g)] propose the terms of the order, including—

(i) how the respondent must provide the information required, and

(ii) the date by which the information must be provided.

(3) Rule 47.8 (Application to vary or discharge an order) does not apply to [F6 an] information order.

(4) Paragraph (5) applies where a party to an application for [F7 an] information order wants to appeal to the Crown Court from the decision of the magistrates’ court.

(5) The appellant must—

(a) serve an appeal notice on the Crown Court officer and on the other party not more than 15 business days after the magistrates’ court’s decision; and

(b) in the appeal notice, explain, as appropriate, why the Crown Court should (as the case may be) make, discharge or vary [F8 an] information order.

(6) Rule 34.11 (Constitution of the Crown Court) applies on such an appeal.

[Note. See sections 339ZH, 339ZJ, 339ZK, [F9 , 339ZL] 357, 358 and 361 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002(2)and articles 16, 17 and 20 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Investigations) Order 2014(3).

Where the 2002 Act applies, a Crown Court judge may make a disclosure order for the purposes of a confiscation investigation or a money laundering investigation.

The applicant for a disclosure order must be a ‘relevant authority’ as defined by section 357(7) of the 2002 Act, or an ‘appropriate officer’ as defined by article 2(1) of the 2014 Order where the Order applies. Under section 362(6) of the Act(4), a relevant authority who under section 357(7) is an ‘appropriate officer’ (as defined by section 378(1), (4) and (5)(5)) may apply only if that person is, or is authorised to do so by, a ‘senior appropriate officer’ (as defined by section 378(2)).

[F10 Under section 339ZH(1), (12) of the 2002 Act the applicant for an information order must be the Director General of the National Crime Agency or an officer of that Agency authorised by the Director General for that purpose.]

A disclosure order can require a lawyer to provide a client’s name and address.

Under sections 330, 331 and 332 in Part 7 of the 2002 Act(6) a person engaged in a business in the regulated sector commits an offence where the conditions listed in any of those sections are met and that person does not disclose, in the manner required by the relevant section, knowledge or a suspicion that another person is engaged in money laundering.

F11 ...

[F12 Under section 339ZH(6A) and (6B) of the 2002 Act the analysis to assist in which information may be sought may be (i) operational analysis of information that is relevant to money laundering or suspected money laundering, or (ii) strategic analysis identifying trends or patterns in the conduct of money laundering, or systemic deficiencies or vulnerabilities which have been, are being or are likely to be, exploited for the purposes of money laundering. Section 1 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 confers functions on the National Crime Agency, including the ‘criminal intelligence function’ defined by section 1(5) of that Act.

Under section 339ZK of the 2002 Act an information order does not confer the right to require information which a person would be entitled to refuse to provide on grounds of legal professional privilege in proceedings in the High Court.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in rule 47.20 heading omitted (1.4.2024) by virtue of The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/62), rules 1, 12(k)(i)

F2 Words in rule 47.20(1)(a) substituted (8.2.2021) by The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/40), rules 2, 27(i)

F3 Word in rule 47.20(2) substituted (1.4.2024) by The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/62), rules 1, 12(k)(ii)

F4 Rule 47.20(2)(e)(f) substituted for rule 47.20(2)(e) (1.4.2024) by The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/62), rules 1, 12(k)(iv)

F5 Rule 47.20(2)(g) renumbered as rule 47.20(2)(f) (1.4.2024) by The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/62), rules 1, 12(k)(iii)

F6 Word in rule 47.20(3) substituted (1.4.2024) by The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/62), rules 1, 12(k)(ii)

F7 Word in rule 47.20(4) substituted (1.4.2024) by The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/62), rules 1, 12(k)(ii)

F8 Word in rule 47.20(5) substituted (1.4.2024) by The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/62), rules 1, 12(k)(ii)

F9 Word in rule 47.20 Note inserted (1.4.2024) by The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/62), rules 1, 12(k)(v)

F10 Words in rule 47.20 Note substituted (1.4.2024) by The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/62), rules 1, 12(k)(vi)

F11 Words in rule 47.20 Note omitted (2.10.2023) by virtue of The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/786), rule 1, Sch. para. 65

F12 Words in rule 47.20 Note inserted (1.4.2024) by The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/62), rules 1, 12(k)(vii)

Commencement Information

I1 Rule 47.20 in force at 5.10.2020, see Preamble

(1)

2002 c. 29; Part 1 of Schedule 9 was substituted by articles 2 and 3 of S.I. 2007/3287 and amended by sections 183 and 237 of, and paragraph 2 of Schedule 18 and Part 29 of Schedule 25 to, the Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), regulation 79 of, and paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to, S.I. 2011/99, article 3 of S.I. 2011/2701, article 3 of S.I. 2012/1534, article 3 of S.I. 2012/2299, regulation 46 of, and paragraph 41 of Schedule 2 to, S.I. 2013/3115, section 151 of, and paragraph 81 of Schedule 4 to, the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (c. 14), regulation 59 of, and paragraph 23 of Schedule 1 to, S.I. 2015/575, regulation 14 of S.I. 2016/680, regulation 2 of, and paragraph 13 of the Schedule to, S.I. 2017/80, regulation 109 of, and paragraph 6 of Schedule 7 to, S.I. 2017/692 and regulation 50 of, and paragraph 7 of Schedule 4 to, S.I. 2017/701.

(2)

2002 c. 29; sections 339ZH, 339ZJ and 339ZK were inserted by section 12 of the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22). Section 357 was amended by sections 74 and 77 of, and paragraphs 103 and 108 of Schedule 8 and paragraphs 1 and 10 of Schedule 10 to, the Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), section 169 of, and paragraphs 1 and 13 of Schedule 19 to, the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), sections 15, 49 and 55 of, and paragraphs 108 and 139 of Schedule 8, paragraphs 1 and 8 of Schedule 19 and paragraphs 14 and 34 of Schedule 21 to, the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22) and article 3 of, and paragraphs 19 and 27 of Schedule 2 to, SI 2014/834 and section 7(2) of, and paragraph 51 of Schedule 5 to, the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22). Section 358 was amended by section 169 of, and paragraphs 1 and 14 of Schedule 19 to, the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), section 49(a) of, and paragraphs 1 and 9 of Schedule 19 to, the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22) and section 7(3) of the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22). Section 361 was amended by section 74 of, and paragraphs 103 and 109 of Schedule 8 to, the Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27).

(3)

S.I. 2014/1893.

(4)

2002 c. 29; section 362 was amended by section 74 of, and paragraphs 103 and 110 of Schedule 8 to, the Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), section 169 of, and paragraphs 1 and 15 of Schedule 19 to, the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25) and section 15 of, and paragraphs 108 and 140 of Schedule 8 to, the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22). It is further amended by section 7(4) of the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), with effect from a date to be appointed.

(5)

2002 c. 29; section 378 was amended by section 59 of, and paragraphs 168 and 175 of Schedule 4 to, the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), sections 74, 77 and 80 of, and paragraphs 103 and 116 of Schedule 8 and paragraphs 1 and 13 of Schedule 10 to, the Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), sections 15, 49 and 55 of, and paragraphs 108 and 144 of Schedule 8 and paragraphs 1, 24, 27, 29 and 30 of Schedule 19 to, the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22) and section 224 of, and paragraphs 1 and 18 of Schedule 48 to, the Finance Act 2013 (c. 29). It is further amended by paragraph 25 of Schedule 1, and paragraph 59 of Schedule 5, to the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), with effect from dates to be appointed.

(6)

2002 c. 29; section 330 was amended by sections 102, 104, 105, 106 and 174 of, and Schedule 17 to, the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), article 2 of S.I. 2006/308, regulation 3 of, and paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 2 to, S.I. 2007/3398 and section 15 of, and paragraphs 108 and 129 of Schedule 8 to, the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22). Section 331 was amended by sections 102 and 104 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15) and section 15 of, and paragraphs 108 and 130 of Schedule 8 to, the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22). Section 332 was amended by sections 102 and 104 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15) and section 15 of, and paragraphs 108 and 131 of Schedule 8 to, the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22).