PART IConfiscation of the Proceeds of Crime

Confiscation orders

14 Application of provisions relating to fines to enforcement of confiscation orders.

(1)

Section 211(3) to (6) of the 1995 Act and the other provisions of that Act specified in subsection (2) below shall, subject to the qualifications mentioned in that subsection, apply in relation to confiscation orders as they apply in relation to fines; and section 91 of the M1Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 and Article 96 of the M2Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (provisions relating to transfer of fines from Scotland etc.) shall be construed accordingly.

(2)

The provisions of the 1995 Act mentioned in subsection (1) above are—

(a)

section 214, provided that—

(i)

any allowance under that section of time (or further time) for payment; or

(ii)

any order of payment by instalments,

shall be without prejudice to the exercise by any administrator appointed in relation to the confiscation order of his powers and duties under this Act; and the court may, pending such exercise, postpone any decision as to refusing or allowing time (or further time) for payment or, as the case may be, making an order of payment by instalments;

(b)

section 215, subject to the like proviso as in paragraph (a) above;

(c)

section 216, but as if subsection (1)—

(i)

gave the prosecutor an opportunity to be heard at any enquiry thereunder; and

(ii)

applied whether the offender was in prison or not;

(d)

section 217;

(e)

section 218(2) and (3);

(f)

section 219, provided that—

(i)

where a court imposes a period of imprisonment both in respect of a fine and of a confiscation order the amounts in respect of which the period is imposed shall, for the purposes of subsection (2) of that section, be aggregated; and

(ii)

before imposing a period of imprisonment to which there is a liability by virtue of that section the court shall, if an administrator has been appointed in relation to the confiscation order, require a report from him as to whether and in what way he is likely to exercise his powers and duties under this Act and shall take that report into account; and the court may, pending such exercise, postpone any decision as to such imposition;

(g)

section 220, except that the reference in subsection (1) of that section to the person paying a sum to the governor of the prison under conditions prescribed by rules made under the M3Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 shall be construed as including a reference to an administrator appointed in relation to the confiscation order making such payment under this Act in respect of the person;

(h)

section 221, provided that an order of recovery by civil diligence shall not be made under the section where an administrator is appointed in relation to the confiscation order

(i)

section 222; except that for the purposes of that section “confiscation order” in subsection (1) above shall be construed as including such an order within the meaning of the 1994 Act or of any corresponding provision in Northern Ireland;

(j)

section 223;

(k)

section 224.

F1(l)

section 248B.

(3)

Where a court, by virtue of subsection (1) above, orders the sum due under a confiscation order to be recovered by civil diligence under section 221 of the 1995 Act, any arrestment executed by a prosecutor under subsection (2) of section 33 of this Act shall be deemed to have been executed by the court as if that subsection authorised such execution.

(4)

Where in any proceedings a confiscation order has been made as regards a person and a period of imprisonment or detention is imposed on him in default of payment of its amount (or as the case may be of an instalment thereof), that period shall run from the expiry of any other period of imprisonment or detention (not being one of life imprisonment or detention for life) imposed on him in the proceedings.

(5)

The reference in subsection (4) above to “any other period of imprisonment or detention imposed” includes (without prejudice to the generality of the expression) a reference to such a period on default of payment of a fine (or instalment thereof); but only where that default had occurred before the warrant for imprisonment is issued for the default in relation to the order.