Background briefing on the Criminal Finances Bill: Committee Stage Report

The Criminal Finances Bill was introduced by the Government on 13 October 2016. It contains measures aimed at improving the Government’s ability to recover the proceeds of crime; prevent the financing of terrorism; and tackle money laundering and tax evasion.

Library Briefing Paper CBP 7739 Commons Library Analysis of the Criminal Finances Bill provides an analysis of the Bill as originally introduced.

The Bill had its Second Reading on 25 October 2016. There were six sittings of the Public Bill Committee, including two evidence sessions. The amendments made in Committee were mostly of a technical nature and were uncontroversial. They included:

• Expanding the definition of “cash” in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 to including gaming vouchers and casino tokens for the purposes of civil recovery;
• The extension of new freezing, seizure and forfeiture powers to immigration officers; and
• The creation of an accreditation regime for civilian counter-terrorism financial investigators.