1) Minister for Security (): Today, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Appointed
Person report covering England and Wales for the period 2023 to
2024, has been laid before Parliament. The Appointed Person is
independent of Government and scrutinises the circumstances and
manner in which search and seizure powers conferred by the Act
are exercised without prior judicial approval and where nothing
is seized for more than 48 hours.
I am pleased that we are now able to publish the Appointed
Person's latest report. The report details that search and
seizure powers were used in these circumstances on five
occasions.
The Appointed Person has confirmed in the report that he is
satisfied that the criteria required for justifying the searches
without prior judicial approval were met and that the powers of
search were exercised appropriately. The Appointed Person has
made no new recommendations for the period. This would indicate
that the powers are being used reasonably and appropriately in
accordance with the Act. We will continue to monitor the way that
the powers have been used closely.
Copies of the report will be available in the Vote Office, and it
will also be published on GOV.UK.
2) Minister for Security (): Today, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (“POCA”) costs
protection report covering England and Wales, has been laid
before Parliament. The report is a statutory requirement under
section 215 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act
2023. The government is required to review whether costs
protection should be introduced for enforcement agencies in civil
recovery proceedings under Part 5 of POCA and publish a report by
the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on
which the Act was passed.
I am pleased that we are now able to publish the report. The
report outlines the engagement exercise that took place to seek
consultees views and the options considered for introducing
potential changes. The report concludes that the government sees
merit in introducing costs protection based on the consultation
responses and is making progress to determine whether amendments
to legislation should be made.
Copies of the report will be available in the Vote Office, and it
will also be published on GOV.UK.
