Minister for Security (): Today, the unexplained wealth order report for the
period 2024 to 2025 will be laid before Parliament. The
unexplained wealth order report details the number of unexplained
wealth orders made by the High Court in England and Wales during
that period, and the number of applications made to that Court by
enforcement authorities for such an order.
During this reporting period, five unexplained wealth orders were
applied for, all of which were granted. Four orders were applied
for by the National Crime Agency and one by the Serious Fraud
Office, the first agency other than the NCA to apply for an
order.
This is the highest number of unexplained wealth orders applied
for in one year since their introduction in 2017. This has, in
part, been facilitated by reforms to the orders in the Economic
Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 which were designed
to increase their use. Unexplained wealth orders are intended for
particularly high value and complex cases, which is reflected in
their more limited use compared to other powers. The wide range
of alternative civil and criminal powers available to law
enforcement agencies to investigate, search for, and seize assets
are more appropriate for use in the majority of cases.
Enforcement agencies continue to review whether cases are
suitable for a UWO.
Copies of the report will be available in the Vote Office, and it
will also be published on GOV.UK.
