The draft Proceeds of Crime Bill

On 29 May 2001 the consultation period closed for the draft Proceeds of Crime Bill. With the General Election decided, subject to changes flowing from the consultation period, it is anticipated that the Government will wish to press ahead with the Bill as soon as possible in the new Parliament. Neil Griffiths of Denton Wilde Sapte looks in detail at the draft legislation.

Neil Griffiths, Partner, Denton Wilde Sapte, nrg@dentonwildesapte.com

The draft Bill derives from the report by the Performance and Innovation Unit published in June 2000 (“Recovering the Proceeds of Crime”). It represents a major initiative on the part of the Government to place the confiscation of criminal assets at the centre of Government policy on the reduction of crime.