Crime and Courts Act 2013

6 After section 282A insert—

“Enforcement outside the United Kingdom

282B Enforcement abroad before recovery order: enforcement authority

(1) This section applies if—

(a) the property freezing conditions are met in relation to property,

(b) the property is not property to which a recovery order applies, and

(c) an enforcement authority in relation to England and Wales or Scotland believes that the property is in a country outside the United Kingdom (the receiving country).

(2) The property freezing conditions are—

(a) in England and Wales, the conditions in section 245A(5) and (6), and

(b) in Scotland, the conditions in section 255A(5) and (6),

and, for the purposes of this subsection, the references in those provisions to property to which the application for the order relates are to be read as references to the property mentioned in subsection (1)(a).

(3) The enforcement authority may send a request for assistance in relation to the property to the Secretary of State with a view to it being forwarded under this section.

(4) The Secretary of State may forward the request for assistance to the government of the receiving country.

(5) A request for assistance under this section is a request to the government of the receiving country—

(a) to secure that any person is prohibited from dealing with the property;

(b) for assistance in connection with the management of the property, including with securing its detention, custody or preservation.

282C Enforcement abroad before recovery order: receiver or administrator

(1) This section applies if—

(a) a property freezing order made by the High Court in England and Wales has effect in relation to property, and

(b) the receiver appointed under section 245E in respect of the property believes that it is in a country outside the United Kingdom (the receiving country).

(2) This section also applies if—

(a) an interim receiving order made by the High Court in England and Wales or an interim administration order has effect in relation to property, and

(b) the interim receiver or interim administrator believes that the property is in a country outside the United Kingdom (the receiving country).

(3) The receiver or administrator may send a request for assistance in relation to the property to the Secretary of State with a view to it being forwarded under this section.

(4) The Secretary of State must forward the request for assistance to the government of the receiving country.

(5) A request for assistance under this section is a request to the government of the receiving country—

(a) to secure that any person is prohibited from dealing with the property;

(b) for assistance in connection with the management of the property, including with securing its detention, custody or preservation.

282D Evidence overseas: interim receiver or interim administrator

(1) This section applies if—

(a) an interim receiving order made by the High Court in England and Wales or an interim administration order has effect in relation to property, and

(b) the order requires the interim receiver or interim administrator to take steps to establish a matter described in section 247(2)(a) or (b) or 257(2)(a) or (b).

(2) The interim receiver or interim administrator may request assistance under this section if the interim receiver or interim administrator thinks that there is relevant evidence in a country outside the United Kingdom.

(3) A judge of the High Court in England and Wales may request assistance under this section if—

(a) an application is made by the interim receiver or by a person subject to investigation by the interim receiver, and

(b) the judge thinks that there is relevant evidence in a country outside the United Kingdom.

(4) A judge of the Court of Session may request assistance under this section if—

(a) an application is made by the interim administrator or by a person subject to investigation by the interim administrator, and

(b) the judge thinks that there is relevant evidence in a country outside the United Kingdom.

(5) The assistance that may be requested under this section is assistance in obtaining outside the United Kingdom relevant evidence specified in the request.

(6) Relevant evidence is—

(a) in relation to an application or request made for the purposes of an investigation by an interim receiver, evidence as to a matter described in section 247(2)(a) or (b);

(b) in relation to an application or request made for the purposes of an investigation by an interim administrator, evidence as to a matter described in section 257(2)(a) or (b).

(7) A request for assistance under this section may be sent—

(a) to a court or tribunal which is specified in the request and which exercises jurisdiction in the place where the evidence is to be obtained,

(b) to the government of the country concerned, or

(c) to an authority recognised by the government of the country concerned as the appropriate authority for receiving requests for assistance of that kind.

(8) Alternatively, a request for assistance under this section may be sent to the Secretary of State with a view to it being forwarded to a court, tribunal, government or authority mentioned in subsection (7).

(9) The Secretary of State must forward the request for assistance to the court, tribunal, government or authority.

(10) In a case of urgency, a request for assistance under this section may be sent to—

(a) the International Criminal Police Organisation, or

(b) any person competent to receive it under any provisions adopted under the EU Treaties,

for forwarding to the court, tribunal, government or authority mentioned in subsection (7).

(11) Rules of court may make provision as to the practice and procedure to be followed in connection with proceedings relating to requests for assistance made by a judge under this section.

(12) “Evidence” includes documents, information in any other form and material.

282E Evidence overseas: restrictions on use

(1) This section applies to evidence obtained by means of a request for assistance under section 282D.

(2) The evidence must not be used for any purpose other than—

(a) for the purposes of carrying out the functions of the interim receiver or interim administrator, or

(b) for the purposes of proceedings under this Chapter of this Part in respect of property described in subsection (3) or any proceedings arising out of such proceedings.

(3) That property is—

(a) the property that is the subject of the interim receiving order or interim administration order, or

(b) other property that is recoverable property in respect of the same unlawful conduct.

(4) Subsection (2) does not apply if the court, tribunal, government or authority to whom the request for assistance was sent consents to the use.

(5) In Scotland, the evidence may be received in evidence without being sworn to by anyone, so far as that may be done without unfairness to any party.

282F Enforcement abroad: after recovery order

(1) This section applies if—

(a) a recovery order made by the High Court in England and Wales or the Court of Session has effect in relation to property, and

(b) the enforcement authority or the trustee for civil recovery believes that the property is in a country outside the United Kingdom (the receiving country).

(2) The enforcement authority or trustee for civil recovery may send a request for assistance in relation to the property to the Secretary of State with a view to it being forwarded under this section.

(3) The Secretary of State may forward a request for assistance from the enforcement authority to the government of the receiving country.

(4) The Secretary of State must forward a request for assistance from the trustee for civil recovery to the government of the receiving country.

(5) A request for assistance is a request to the government of the receiving country for assistance in connection with the management and disposal of the property and includes a request—

(a) to secure the detention, custody or preservation of the property;

(b) in the case of money, to secure that it is applied in accordance with the law of the receiving country;

(c) in the case of property other than money, to secure that the property is realised and the proceeds are applied in accordance with the law of the receiving country.

(6) A certificate purporting to be issued by or on behalf of the government of the receiving country is admissible as evidence of the facts it states if it states—

(a) that property has been realised in pursuance of a request under this section,

(b) the date of realisation, and

(c) the proceeds of realisation.”