Part 5Proceeds of crime
Confiscation
I154Power to retain seized property: Northern Ireland
1
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29) is amended as follows.
2
After section 190 insert—
190ARestraint orders: power to retain seized property
1
A restraint order may include provision authorising the detention of any property to which it applies if the property—
a
is seized by an appropriate officer under a relevant seizure power, or
b
is produced to an appropriate officer in compliance with a production order under section 345.
2
Provision under subsection (1) may, in particular—
a
relate to specified property, to property of a specified description or to all property to which the restraint order applies;
b
relate to property that has already been seized or produced or to property that may be seized or produced in future.
3
“Appropriate officer” means—
a
an accredited financial investigator;
b
a constable;
c
an officer of Revenue and Customs;
d
a member of staff of SOCA;
e
a member of staff of the relevant director (within the meaning of section 352(5A)).
4
“Relevant seizure power” means a power to seize property conferred by or by virtue of—
a
section 195C,
b
section 352, or
c
Part 3 or 4 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (including as applied by order under Article 85(1) of that Order).
5
The Secretary of State may by order amend the definition of “relevant seizure power”.
3
After section 193 insert—
193ADetention of property pending appeal
1
This section applies where—
a
a restraint order includes provision under section 190A authorising the detention of property, and
b
the restraint order is discharged under section 191(5) or 192(3)(b).
2
This section also applies where—
a
a restraint order includes provision under section 190A authorising the detention of property, and
b
the restraint order is varied under section 191(5) or 192(3)(b) so as to omit any such provision.
3
The property may be detained until there is no further possibility of an appeal against—
a
the decision to discharge or vary the restraint order, or
b
any decision made on an appeal against that decision.