C9C8C6C3C5C1C2C4Part 4Confiscation: Northern Ireland

Annotations:
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C8

Pt. 4 applied by S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12), arts. 57(5B), 59(8B) (as substituted (24.3.2003) by Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29), Supreme Court s. 458(1), Sch. 11 para. 19(2)(3); S.I. 2003/333, art. 2, Sch.)

Confiscation orders

I1C7C8156C8 Making of order

1

The Crown Court must proceed under this section if the following two conditions are satisfied.

2

The first condition is that a defendant falls within either of the following paragraphs—

a

he is convicted of an offence or offences in proceedings before the Crown Court;

b

he is committed to the Crown Court in respect of an offence or offences under section 218 below (committal with a view to a confiscation order being considered).

3

The second condition is that—

a

the prosecutor F2... asks the court to proceed under this section, or

b

the court believes it is appropriate for it to do so.

4

The court must proceed as follows—

a

it must decide whether the defendant has a criminal lifestyle;

b

if it decides that he has a criminal lifestyle it must decide whether he has benefited from his general criminal conduct;

c

if it decides that he does not have a criminal lifestyle it must decide whether he has benefited from his particular criminal conduct.

5

If the court decides under subsection (4)(b) or (c) that the defendant has benefited from the conduct referred to it must—

a

decide the recoverable amount, and

b

make an order (a confiscation order) requiring him to pay that amount.

F1Paragraph (b) applies only if, or to the extent that, it would not be disproportionate to require the defendant to pay the recoverable amount.

6

But the court must treat the duty in subsection (5) as a power if it believes that any victim of the conduct has at any time started or intends to start proceedings against the defendant in respect of loss, injury or damage sustained in connection with the conduct.

7

The court must decide any question arising under subsection (4) or (5) on a balance of probabilities.

8

The first condition is not satisfied if the defendant absconds (but section 177 may apply).

9

References in this Part to the offence (or offences) concerned are to the offence (or offences) mentioned in subsection (2).