Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

102 Accused’s response to statement of information

(1) When the prosecutor gives the court a statement of information and the court is satisfied that he has served a copy on the accused, the court shall order the accused—

(a) to indicate the extent to which he accepts each allegation in the statement, and

(b) so far as he does not accept such an allegation, to give particulars of any matters he proposes to rely on,

within the period it orders.

(2) Where by virtue of section 99 the court postpones proceedings under section 92, the period ordered by the court under subsection (1) shall be a period ending not less than six months before the end of the permitted period mentioned in section 99.

(3) If the accused accepts to any extent an allegation in a statement of information the court may treat his acceptance as conclusive of the matters to which it relates for the purpose of deciding the issues referred to in section 101(2) or (4) (as the case may be).

(4) If the accused fails in any respect to comply with an order under subsection (1) he may be treated for the purposes of subsection (3) as accepting every allegation in the statement of information apart from—

(a) any allegation in respect of which he has complied with the requirement;

(b) any allegation that he has benefited from his general or particular criminal conduct.

(5) Where—

(a) an allegation in a statement of information is challenged by the accused, or

(b) the matters referred to in subsection (1)(b) are challenged by the prosecutor,

the court must consider the matters being challenged at a hearing.

(6) The judge presiding at the hearing may, if he is not the trial judge and he considers it in the interests of justice to do so, adjourn the hearing to a date when the trial judge is available.

(7) If the court makes an order under this section it may at any time vary it by making another one.

(8) No acceptance under this section that the accused has benefited from conduct is admissible in evidence in proceedings for an offence.