http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2005/15

Part 2Investigations, prosecutions, proceedings and proceeds of crime

Chapter 1Investigatory powers of DPP, etc.

Introductory

I1 I2 C161Offences to which this Chapter applies

1

This Chapter applies to the following offences—

a

any offence listed in Schedule 2 to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29) (lifestyle offences: England and Wales);

b

any offence listed in Schedule 4 to that Act (lifestyle offences: Scotland);

F2ba

any offence listed in Schedule 5 to that Act (lifestyle offences: Northern Ireland);

c

any offence under sections 15 to 18 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11) (offences relating to fund-raising, money laundering etc.);

d

any offence under section 170 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (c. 2) (fraudulent evasion of duty) or section 72 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (c. 23) (offences relating to VAT) which is a qualifying offence;

e

any offence under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968 (c. 60) F3or section 17 of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 (false accounting), or any offence at common law of cheating in relation to the public revenue, which is a qualifying offence;

f

any offence under section 1 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 (c. 47) F4or Article 3 of the Criminal Attempts and Conspiracy (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, or in Scotland at common law, of attempting to commit any offence in paragraph (c) or any offence in paragraph (d) or (e) which is a qualifying offence;

g

any offence under section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45) F5or Article 9 of the Criminal Attempts and Conspiracy (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, or in Scotland at common law, of conspiracy to commit any offence in paragraph (c) or any offence in paragraph (d) or (e) which is a qualifying offence.

F1h

in England and Wales—

i

any common law offence of bribery;

ii

any offence under section 1 of the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 (c. 69) (corruption in office);

iii

the first two offences under section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 (c. 34) (bribes obtained by or given to agents).

2

For the purposes of subsection (1) an offence in paragraph (d) or (e) of that subsection is a qualifying offence if the Investigating Authority certifies that in his opinion—

a

in the case of an offence in paragraph (d) or an offence of cheating the public revenue, the offence involved or would have involved a loss, or potential loss, to the public revenue of an amount not less than £5,000;

b

in the case of an offence under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968 (c. 60) F6or section 17 of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969, the offence involved or would have involved a loss or gain, or potential loss or gain, of an amount not less than £5,000.

3

A document purporting to be a certificate under subsection (2) is to be received in evidence and treated as such a certificate unless the contrary is proved.

4

The Secretary of State may by order—

a

amend subsection (1), in its application to England and Wales F7or Northern Ireland, so as to remove an offence from it or add an offence to it;

b

amend subsection (2), in its application to England and Wales F7or Northern Ireland, so as to—

i

take account of any amendment made by virtue of paragraph (a) above, or

ii

vary the sums for the time being specified in subsection (2)(a) and (b).

5

The Scottish Ministers may by order—

a

amend subsection (1), in its application to Scotland, so as to remove an offence from it or add an offence to it;

b

amend subsection (2), in its application to Scotland, so as to—

i