Confiscation & Restraint in Leeds

Businesses and individuals can both be affected by the Restraint provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act.
These restraint provisions can include:

• Freezing of assets at the beginning of a criminal investigation, before any criminal charges are brought.
• Applications are made by the prosecution without notice to the individual.
• Freezing of assets of an individual and/or connected third parties and/or companies. This can have an international application where relevant.
• Court-ordered statements of truth requesting information in detail of assets & transfers over many years.
• Court-ordered requests for the immediate disclosure of assets both in the UK and abroad.
• Repatriation of assets abroad e.g. return of assets to the UK.
• Appointment of Management Receivers to trace and recover assets.
• Production Orders to obtain personal records.
• Contempt proceedings for alleged non-cooperation.
• Orders which seek to limit living expenses and business expenditure.

Our Criminal Law Solicitors are experienced in advising on the following:

• Applications to discharge Restraint Orders.
• Variation of restraint orders.
• Releasing third party assets.

Civil recovery proceedings are usually brought when a prosecuting agency believes that an individual or a company has assets that were acquired through criminal conduct but does not have enough evidence to bring a criminal case against them.

Civil recovery proceedings can also be brought even where a defendant has been previously acquitted in the Crown Court.

As these are civil proceedings there is no requirement for a jury to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt but merely for the court to be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the assets are the proceeds of crime. We can assist with analysing the evidence, collating evidence to enable us to negotiate with the investigating authority. We have an extensive pool of experts to assist if required.

When a Confiscation Order is made in the Crown Court, the court will direct that this is paid within a specified time limit and set a period of imprisonment in default if this is not paid on time and in full. If a Confiscation Order has not been paid, in whole or in part, Enforcement Proceedings can be initiated in the Magistrate’s Court.

Our Solicitors can assist in all aspects of Enforcement proceedings, including:

• Representation in the Magistrates Court.
• Negotiating certificates of inadequacy/variations despite the findings made in the original hearings in the Crown Court.
• Challenge appointment of Receivers to sell assets.
• Challenge applications for the default sentence to be executed.
• Applications to extend the time to pay.
• Negotiating additional time to pay even beyond the statutory time limits, having the effect of delaying enforcement proceedings.
• Discharge and variation of confiscation orders.
• Advice on appeal of the confiscation order.

Restraint and Confiscation Orders and Enforcement Proceedings can impact innocent third parties in some circumstances too. Our Solicitors are experienced in acting for third parties in all aspects of restraint and confiscation.