Assets Recovery Agency, an overview

Gavin McFarlane of Temple Chambers Cardiff

The new Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), which is tasked with recovering criminal assets, was set up under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) and became operational in February this year. It was established as a non-ministerial department in only six months; a number of organisations contributed to this effort by seconding staff, they include the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (NI), HM Customs and Excise, the Inland Revenue, the Department of Work and Pensions, the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police, and several other police authorities outside London. ARA takes cases on referral from both law enforcement and Customs. Jane Earl, its first Director, reports to the Home Secretary.