Part 5 U.K. Civil recovery of the proceeds etc. of unlawful conduct

Chapter 2 U.K. Civil recovery in the High Court or Court of Session

Vesting and realisation of recoverable property U.K.

272 Associated and joint property: default of agreement U.K.

(1) Where this section applies, the court may make the following provision if—

(a) there is no agreement under section 271, and

(b) the court thinks it just and equitable to do so.

(2) The recovery order may provide—

(a) for the associated property to vest in the trustee for civil recovery or (as the case may be) for the excepted joint owner’s interest to be extinguished, or

(b) in the case of an excepted joint owner, for the severance of his interest.

(3) A recovery order making any provision by virtue of subsection (2)(a) may provide—

(a) for the trustee to pay an amount to the person who holds the associated property or who is an excepted joint owner, or

(b) for the creation of interests in favour of that person, or the imposition of liabilities or conditions, in relation to the property vested in the trustee,

or for both.

(4) In making any provision in a recovery order by virtue of subsection (2) or (3), the court must have regard to—

(a) the rights of any person who holds the associated property or who is an excepted joint owner and the value to him of that property or, as the case may be, of his share (including any value which cannot be assessed in terms of money),

(b) the enforcement authority’s interest in receiving the realised proceeds of the recoverable property.

(5) If—

(a) [F1 a property freezing order, an interim receiving order, a prohibitory property order or an ] interim administration order applied at any time to the associated property or joint tenancy, and

(b) the court is satisfied that the person who holds the associated property or who is an excepted joint owner has suffered loss as a result of the [F2 order mentioned in paragraph (a) ],

a recovery order making any provision by virtue of subsection (2) or (3) may require the enforcement authority to pay compensation to that person.

(6) The amount of compensation to be paid under subsection (5) is the amount the court thinks reasonable, having regard to the person’s loss and to any other relevant circumstances.

[F3 (7) In subsection (5) the reference to the enforcement authority is, in the case of an enforcement authority in relation to England and Wales or Northern Ireland, a reference to the enforcement authority which obtained the property freezing order or interim receiving order concerned.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 272(5)(a) substituted (1.1.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 6 para. 17(a); S.I. 2005/3136, art. 3(c)

F2 Words in s. 272(5)(b) substituted (1.1.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 6 para. 17(b); S.I. 2005/3136, art. 3(c)

F3 S. 272(7) inserted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 87; S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 272 in force at 24.2.2003 by S.I. 2003/120, art. 2, Sch. (with arts. 3, 4) (as amended (20.2.2003) by S.I. 2003/333, art. 14)