The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Requests and Orders) Order 2005

Powers of Director of Agency’s receivers in respect of external orders for the recovery of specified property

32.—(1) If the court makes an order for the appointment of a receiver under article 30, it may act under this article on the application of the Director of the Agency where the external order is for the recovery of property specified in the order (“the specified property”).

(2) The court may by order confer on the receiver the following powers in relation to the specified property—

(a) power to take possession of the property;

(b) power to manage or otherwise deal with the property;

(c) power to realise the property, in such manner as the court may specify;

(d) power to start, carry on or defend legal proceedings in respect of the property.

(3) The court may by order confer on the receiver power to enter any premises in England and Wales and to do any of the following—

(a) search for or inspect anything authorised by the court;

(b) make or obtain a copy, photograph or other record of anything so authorised;

(c) remove anything which the receiver is required or authorised to take possession of in pursuance of an order of the court.

(4) The court may by order authorise the receiver to do any of the following for the purpose of the exercise of his functions—

(a) hold property;

(b) enter into contracts;

(c) sue and be sued;

(d) employ agents;

(e) execute powers of attorney, deeds or other instruments;

(f) take any other steps the court thinks appropriate.

(5) The court may order any person who has possession of the specified property to give possession of it to the receiver.

(6) The court—

(a) may order a person holding an interest in the specified property to make to the receiver such payment as the court specifies in respect of a beneficial interest held by the defendant or the recipient of a tainted gift;

(b) may (on the payment being made) by order transfer, grant or extinguish any interest in the property.

(7) The court must not—

(a) confer the power mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) or (c) in respect of property, or

(b) exercise the power conferred on it by paragraph (6) in respect of property,

unless it gives persons holding interests in the property a reasonable opportunity to make representations to it.

(8) The court may order that a power conferred by an order under this article is subject to such conditions and exceptions as it specifies.

(9) Managing or otherwise dealing with property includes—

(a) selling the property or any part of it or interest in it;

(b) carrying on or arranging for another person to carry on any trade or business the assets of which are or are part of the property;

(c) incurring capital expenditure in respect of the property.