The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Seizure and Detention of Property: Code of Practice) (Northern Ireland) Order 2024
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Seizure and Detention of Property: Code of Practice) (Northern Ireland) Order 2024 is a statutory instrument that was made on 19 December 2024 and came into force on 1 January 2025.
The Order approves a Code of Practice issued by the Secretary of State under section 67A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29). The Code of Practice provides guidance to law enforcement officers on the exercise of their powers under Part 5 of the Act (search, seizure and detention of property) in Northern Ireland.
The Order is necessary because the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 does not apply to Northern Ireland. The Order therefore makes provision for the application of the Act to Northern Ireland, with modifications.
The Order is also necessary because the Code of Practice issued by the Secretary of State under section 67A of the Act does not apply to Northern Ireland. The Order therefore approves the Code of Practice for the purposes of its application in Northern Ireland.
The Order is a welcome addition to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. It will help to ensure that law enforcement officers in Northern Ireland have the necessary guidance to exercise their powers under Part 5 of the Act effectively and fairly.
Key Features of the Order
The Order has a number of key features, including:
- It approves a Code of Practice that provides guidance to law enforcement officers on the exercise of their powers under Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in Northern Ireland.
- The Code of Practice sets out the following:
- The circumstances in which law enforcement officers may search for and seize property under Part 5 of the Act.
- The procedure that law enforcement officers must follow when searching for and seizing property.
- The circumstances in which law enforcement officers may detain property under Part 5 of the Act.
- The procedure that law enforcement officers must follow when detaining property.
- The Order also makes a number of modifications to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in its application to Northern Ireland. These modifications include:
- Replacing references to the Secretary of State with references to the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland.
- Replacing references to the High Court with references to the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland.
- Replacing references to the Court of Appeal with references to the Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland.
Impact of the Order
The Order is expected to have a significant impact on the way that law enforcement officers in Northern Ireland exercise their powers under Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The Order will help to ensure that law enforcement officers have the necessary guidance to exercise their powers effectively and fairly.
The Order is also expected to have a positive impact on the fight against crime in Northern Ireland. By providing law enforcement officers with the necessary tools to investigate and prosecute crime, the Order will help to ensure that criminals are brought to justice and that the proceeds of their crimes are confiscated.
Conclusion
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Seizure and Detention of Property: Code of Practice) (Northern Ireland) Order 2024 is a welcome addition to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The Order will help to ensure that law enforcement officers in Northern Ireland have the necessary guidance to exercise their powers under Part 5 of the Act effectively and fairly. The Order is also expected to have a positive impact on the fight against crime in Northern Ireland.
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UK New Legislation a new article on 2024-12-19 14:03 titled “The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Seizure and Detention of Property: Code of Practice) (Northern Ireland) Order 2024”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
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