54.Where a confiscation order has been made, there is a procedure in the earlier confiscation legislation for the defendant or a receiver appointed in the case to apply to the High Court for a “certificate of inadequacy” on demonstrating that the realisable property is insufficient to satisfy the confiscation order. Where the High Court issues a certificate of inadequacy, the certificate may be presented to the Crown Court or magistrates’ court and the amount of the confiscation order must then be reduced.
55.This certificate of inadequacy procedure is cumbersome and expensive. Section 23 provides instead for application to be made directly to the Crown Court by the defendant or a receiver appointed in the case.