Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

F1 [F1 336B Proceedings under section 336A: supplementary U.K.

(1) This section applies to proceedings on an application under section 336A.

(2) The court must determine the proceedings as soon as reasonably practicable.

(3) The court may exclude from any part of the hearing—

(a) an interested person;

(b) anyone representing that person.

(4) The person who made the application may apply to the court for an order that specified information upon which he or she intends to rely be withheld from—

(a) an interested person;

(b) anyone representing that person.

(5) The court may make such an order only if satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that if the specified information were disclosed—

(a) evidence of an offence would be interfered with or harmed,

(b) the gathering of information about the possible commission of an offence would be interfered with,

(c) a person would be interfered with or physically injured,

(d) the recovery of property under this Act would be hindered, or

(e) national security would be put at risk.

(6) The court must direct that the following be excluded from the hearing of an application under subsection (4)—

(a) the interested person to whom that application relates;

(b) anyone representing that person.

(7) Subject to this section, rules of court may make provision as to the practice and procedure to be followed in connection with proceedings in relation to applications under section 336A.

(8) An appeal lies to the appropriate appeal court on a point of law arising from a decision made by the Crown Court in Northern Ireland or by the sheriff.

(9) The appropriate appeal court may on such an appeal make any order that it considers appropriate (subject to the restriction mentioned in section 336A(7)).

(10) The appropriate appeal court is—

(a) in the case of a decision of the Crown Court in Northern Ireland, the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland;

(b) in the case of a decision of the sheriff, the Sheriff Appeal Court.

(11) For rights of appeal in the case of decisions made by the Crown Court in England and Wales, see section 28 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 (appeals from Crown Court and inferior courts).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 336A-336D inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.10.2017 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), ss. 10(4), 58(1)(6); S.I. 2017/991, reg. 2(a) (with reg. 3(1)); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 2(1)(c)