Part 5Proceeds of crime
Confiscation
58Power to sell seized personal property: England and Wales
1
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29) is amended as follows.
2
After section 67 insert—
67ASeized personal property
1
This section applies to personal property which is held by a person and which—
a
has been seized by an appropriate officer under a relevant seizure power, or
b
has been produced to an appropriate officer in compliance with a production order under section 345.
2
This section applies if the following conditions are satisfied—
a
a confiscation order is made against the person by whom the property is held;
b
a receiver has not been appointed under section 50 in relation to the property;
c
any period allowed under section 11 for payment of the amount ordered to be paid under the confiscation order has ended.
3
In such a case a magistrates' court may by order authorise an appropriate officer to realise the property.
4
In this section “appropriate officer” and “relevant seizure power” have the same meaning as in section 41A.
67BCosts of storage and realisation
1
This section applies if a magistrates' court makes an order under section 67A.
2
The court may determine an amount which may be recovered by the appropriate officer in respect of reasonable costs incurred in—
a
storing or insuring the property since it was seized or produced as mentioned in subsection (1) of that section;
b
realising the property.
3
If the court makes a determination under this section the appropriate officer is entitled to payment of the amount under section 55(4).
4
A determination under this section may be made on the same occasion as the section 67A order or on any later occasion; and more than one determination may be made in relation to any case.
5
In this section “appropriate officer” has the same meaning as in section 41A.
67CSections 67A and 67B: appeals
1
If a magistrates' court decides not to make an order under section 67A, an appropriate officer may appeal to the Crown Court.
2
If a magistrates' court makes an order under section 67A, a person affected by the order may appeal to the Crown Court.
3
But the person mentioned in section 67A(2)(a) may not appeal.
4
An appropriate officer may appeal to the Crown Court against—
a
a determination made by a magistrates' court under section 67B;
b
a decision by a magistrates' court not to make a determination under that section.
5
In this section “appropriate officer” has the same meaning as in section 41A.
67DProceeds of realisation
1
This section applies to sums which—
a
are in the hands of an appropriate officer, and
b
are the proceeds of the realisation of property under section 67A.
2
The sums must be applied as follows—
a
first, they must be applied in payment of such expenses incurred by a person acting as an insolvency practitioner as are payable under this subsection by virtue of section 432;
b
second, they must be applied in making any payments directed by the magistrates' court or the Crown Court;
c
third, they must be paid to the appropriate designated officer on account of the amount payable under the confiscation order.
3
If the amount payable under the confiscation order has been fully paid and any sums remain in the appropriate officer's hands, the appropriate officer must distribute them—
a
among such persons who held (or hold) interests in the property represented by the proceeds as the magistrates' court or the Crown Court directs, and
b
in such proportions as it directs.
4
Before making a direction under subsection (3) the court must give persons who held (or hold) interests in the property a reasonable opportunity to make representations to it.
5
If the magistrates' court has made a direction under subsection (2)(b) or (3) in respect of the proceeds of realisation of any property, the Crown Court may not make a direction under either of those provisions in respect of the proceeds of realisation of that property; and vice versa.
6
In this section—
“appropriate officer” has the same meaning as in section 41A;
“appropriate designated officer” means the designated officer for the magistrates' court which, by virtue of section 35, is responsible for enforcing the confiscation order as if it were a fine.
3
Accordingly, at the end of the cross-heading immediately above that section insert “
and personal property
”
.
4
In section 55(3)(b)
(payment of sums received by designated officer under section 54 or otherwise: insolvency practitioners' expenses) after “section 54(2)(a)” insert “
or 67D(2)(a)
”
.
5
In section 55(4) (payment of sums received by designated officer under section 54)—
a
after “section 54” insert “
or 67D
”
,
b
in paragraph (b) for “the receiver” substitute “
any receiver
”
, and
c
after paragraph (b) insert—
c
third, in payment to an appropriate officer of any amount to which the officer is entitled by virtue of section 67B.