Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005
2005 c. 15
An Act to provide for the establishment and functions of the Serious Organised Crime Agency; to make provision about investigations, prosecutions, offenders and witnesses in criminal proceedings and the protection of persons involved in investigations or proceedings; to provide for the implementation of certain international obligations relating to criminal matters; to amend the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002; to make further provision for combatting crime and disorder, including new provision about powers of arrest and search warrants and about parental compensation orders; to make further provision about the police and policing and persons supporting the police; to make provision for protecting certain organisations from interference with their activities; to make provision about criminal records; to provide for the Private Security Industry Act 2001 to extend to Scotland; and for connected purposes.
[7th April 2005]
Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
(1) This Chapter confers powers on—
(a) the Director of Public Prosecutions,
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(c) the Lord Advocate, and
(d) the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland,
in relation to the giving of disclosure notices in connection with the investigation of offences to which this Chapter applies or in connection with a terrorist investigation.
(2) The Director of Public Prosecutions may, to such extent as he may determine, delegate the exercise of his powers under this Chapter to a Crown prosecutor.
(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4) The Lord Advocate may, to such extent as he may determine, delegate the exercise of his powers under this Chapter to a procurator fiscal.
(4A) The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland may, to such extent as he may determine, delegate the exercise of his powers under this Chapter to a Public Prosecutor.
(5) In this Chapter “the Investigating Authority” means—
(a) the Director of Public Prosecutions,
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(c) the Lord Advocate ,or
(d) the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
(6) But, in circumstances where the powers of any of those persons are exercisable by any other person by virtue of subsection (2), ... (4) or (4A), references to “the Investigating Authority” accordingly include any such other person.
(7) In this Chapter “terrorist investigation” means an investigation of—
(a) the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism,
(b) any act or omission which appears to have been for the purposes of terrorism and which consists in or involves the commission, preparation or instigation of an offence, or
(c) the commission, preparation or instigation of an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11) or under Part 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 other than an offence under section 1 or 2 of that Act.
(1) This Chapter applies to the following offences—
(a) any offence listed in Schedule 2 to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29) (lifestyle offences: England and Wales);
(b) any offence listed in Schedule 4 to that Act (lifestyle offences: Scotland);
(ba) any offence listed in Schedule 5 to that Act (lifestyle offences: Northern Ireland);
(c) any offence under sections 15 to 18 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11) (offences relating to fund-raising, money laundering etc.);
(d) any offence under section 170 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (c. 2) (fraudulent evasion of duty) or section 72 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (c. 23) (offences relating to VAT) which is a qualifying offence;
(e) any offence under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968 (c. 60) or section 17 of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 (false accounting), or any offence at common law of cheating in relation to the public revenue, which is a qualifying offence;
(f) any offence under section 1 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 (c. 47) or Article 3 of the Criminal Attempts and Conspiracy (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, or in Scotland at common law, of attempting to commit any offence in paragraph (c) or any offence in paragraph (d) or (e) which is a qualifying offence;
(g) any offence under section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45) or Article 9 of the Criminal Attempts and Conspiracy (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, or in Scotland at common law, of conspiracy to commit any offence in paragraph (c) or any offence in paragraph (d) or (e) which is a qualifying offence;
(h) any offence under the Bribery Act 2010.
(i) any offence under section 45 or 46 of the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (failure to prevent the facilitation of UK tax evasion offences or foreign tax evasion offences).
(j) any offence under regulations under section 1 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (sanctions regulations) which is specified by those regulations by virtue of section 17(8) of that Act.
(k) an offence under section 199 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (failure to prevent fraud offences).
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) an offence in paragraph (d) or (e) of that subsection is a qualifying offence if the Investigating Authority certifies that in his opinion—
(a) in the case of an offence in paragraph (d) or an offence of cheating the public revenue, the offence involved or would have involved a loss, or potential loss, to the public revenue of an amount not less than £5,000;
(b) in the case of an offence under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968 (c. 60) or section 17 of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969, the offence involved or would have involved a loss or gain, or potential loss or gain, of an amount not less than £5,000.
(3) A document purporting to be a certificate under subsection (2) is to be received in evidence and treated as such a certificate unless the contrary is proved.
(4) The Secretary of State may by order—
(a) amend subsection (1), in its application to England and Wales or Northern Ireland, so as to remove an offence from it or add an offence to it;
(b) amend subsection (2), in its application to England and Wales or Northern Ireland, so as to—
(i) take account of any amendment made by virtue of paragraph (a) above, or
(ii) vary the sums for the time being specified in subsection (2)(a) and (b).
(5) The Scottish Ministers may by order—
(a) amend subsection (1), in its application to Scotland, so as to remove an offence from it or add an offence to it;
(b) amend subsection (2), in its application to Scotland, so as to—
(i) take account of any amendment made by virtue of paragraph (a) above, or
(ii) vary the sums for the time being specified in subsection (2)(a) and (b).
(1) If it appears to the Investigating Authority—
(a) that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that an offence to which this Chapter applies has been committed,
(b) that any person has information (whether or not contained in a document) which relates to a matter relevant to the investigation of that offence, and
(c) that there are reasonable grounds for believing that information which may be provided by that person in compliance with a disclosure notice is likely to be of substantial value (whether or not by itself) to that investigation,
he may give, or authorise an appropriate person to give, a disclosure notice to that person.
(1A) If it appears to the Investigating Authority—
(a) that any person has information (whether or not contained in a document) which relates to a matter relevant to a terrorist investigation, and
(b) that there are reasonable grounds for believing that information which may be provided by that person in compliance with a disclosure notice is likely to be of substantial value (whether or not by itself) to that investigation,
he may give, or authorise an appropriate person to give, a disclosure notice to that person.
(2) In this Chapter “appropriate person” means—
(a) a constable,
(b) a National Crime Agency officer who is for the time being designated under section 9 or 10 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, or
(c) an officer of Revenue and Customs.
But in the application of this Chapter to Northern Ireland, this subsection has effect as if paragraph (b) was omitted.
(3) In this Chapter “disclosure notice” means a notice in writing requiring the person to whom it is given to do all or any of the following things in accordance with the specified requirements, namely—
(a) answer questions with respect to any matter relevant to the investigation;
(b) provide information with respect to any such matter as is specified in the notice;
(c) produce such documents, or documents of such descriptions, relevant to the investigation as are specified in the notice.
(4) In subsection (3) “the specified requirements” means such requirements specified in the disclosure notice as relate to—
(a) the time at or by which,
(b) the place at which, or
(c) the manner in which,
the person to whom the notice is given is to do any of the things mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) of that subsection; and those requirements may include a requirement to do any of those things at once.
(5) A disclosure notice must be signed or counter-signed by the Investigating Authority.
(6) This section has effect subject to section 64 (restrictions on requiring information etc.).
(1) This section applies where a disclosure notice has been given under section 62.
(2) An authorised person may—
(a) take copies of or extracts from any documents produced in compliance with the notice, and
(b) require the person producing them to provide an explanation of any of them.
(3) Documents so produced may be retained for so long as the Investigating Authority considers that it is necessary to retain them (rather than copies of them) in connection with the investigation for the purposes of which the disclosure notice was given.
(4) If the Investigating Authority has reasonable grounds for believing—
(a) that any such documents may have to be produced for the purposes of any legal proceedings, and
(b) that they might otherwise be unavailable for those purposes,
they may be retained until the proceedings are concluded.
(5) If a person who is required by a disclosure notice to produce any documents does not produce the documents in compliance with the notice, an authorised person may require that person to state, to the best of his knowledge and belief, where they are.
(6) In this section “authorised person” means any appropriate person who either—
(a) is the person by whom the notice was given, or
(b) is authorised by the Investigating Authority for the purposes of this section.
(7) This section has effect subject to section 64 (restrictions on requiring information etc.).
(1) A person may not be required under section 62 or 63—
(a) to answer any privileged question,
(b) to provide any privileged information, or
(c) to produce any privileged document,
except that a lawyer may be required to provide the name and address of a client of his.
(2) A “privileged question” is a question which the person would be entitled to refuse to answer on grounds of legal professional privilege in proceedings in the High Court.
(3) “Privileged information” is information which the person would be entitled to refuse to provide on grounds of legal professional privilege in such proceedings.
(4) A “privileged document” is a document which the person would be entitled to refuse to produce on grounds of legal professional privilege in such proceedings.
(5) A person may not be required under section 62 to produce any excluded material (as defined by section 11 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60) or, in relation to Northern Ireland, Article 13 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989).
(6) In the application of this section to Scotland—
(a) subsections (1) to (5) do not have effect, but
(b) a person may not be required under section 62 or 63 to answer any question, provide any information or produce any document which he would be entitled, on grounds of legal privilege, to refuse to answer or (as the case may be) provide or produce.
(7) In subsection (6)(b), “legal privilege” has the meaning given by section 412 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29).
(8) A person may not be required under section 62 or 63 to disclose any information or produce any document in respect of which he owes an obligation of confidence by virtue of carrying on any banking business, unless—
(a) the person to whom the obligation of confidence is owed consents to the disclosure or production, or
(b) the requirement is made by, or in accordance with a specific authorisation given by, the Investigating Authority.
(9) Subject to the preceding provisions, any requirement under section 62 or 63 has effect despite any restriction on disclosure (however imposed).
(1) A statement made by a person in response to a requirement imposed under section 62 or 63 (“the relevant statement”) may not be used in evidence against him in any criminal proceedings unless subsection (2) or (3) applies.
(2) This subsection applies where the person is being prosecuted—
(a) for an offence under section 67 of this Act, or
(b) for an offence under section 5 of the Perjury Act 1911 (c. 6) (false statements made on oath otherwise than in judicial proceedings or made otherwise than on oath), or
(c) for an offence under section 44(2) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (c.39) (false statutory declarations and other false statements without oath) or at common law for an offence of attempting to pervert the course, or defeat the ends, of justice, or
(d) for an offence under Article 10 of the Perjury (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (false statements made otherwise than on oath).
(3) This subsection applies where the person is being prosecuted for some other offence and—
(a) the person, when giving evidence in the proceedings, makes a statement inconsistent with the relevant statement, and
(b) in the proceedings evidence relating to the relevant statement is adduced, or a question about it is asked, by or on behalf of the person.
(1) A justice of the peace may issue a warrant under this section if, on an information on oath laid by the Investigating Authority, he is satisfied—
(a) that any of the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) is met in relation to any documents of a description specified in the information, and
(b) that the documents are on premises so specified.
(2) The conditions are—
(a) that a person has been required by a disclosure notice to produce the documents but has not done so;
(b) that it is not practicable to give a disclosure notice requiring their production;
(c) that giving such a notice might seriously prejudice the investigation of an offence to which this Chapter applies.
(3) A warrant under this section is a warrant authorising an appropriate person named in it—
(a) to enter and search the premises, using such force as is reasonably necessary;
(b) to take possession of any documents appearing to be documents of a description specified in the information, or to take any other steps which appear to be necessary for preserving, or preventing interference with, any such documents;
(c) in the case of any such documents consisting of information recorded otherwise than in legible form, to take possession of any computer disk or other electronic storage device which appears to contain the information in question, or to take any other steps which appear to be necessary for preserving, or preventing interference with, that information;
(d) to take copies of or extracts from any documents or information falling within paragraph (b) or (c);
(e) to require any person on the premises to provide an explanation of any such documents or information or to state where any such documents or information may be found;
(f) to require any such person to give the appropriate person such assistance as he may reasonably require for the taking of copies or extracts as mentioned in paragraph (d).
(4) A person executing a warrant under this section may take other persons with him, if it appears to him to be necessary to do so.
(5) A warrant under this section must, if so required, be produced for inspection by the owner or occupier of the premises or anyone acting on his behalf.
(6) If the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily absent, a person entering the premises under the authority of a warrant under this section must leave the premises as effectively secured against trespassers as he found them.
(7) Where possession of any document or device is taken under this section—
(a) the document may be retained for so long as the Investigating Authority considers that it is necessary to retain it (rather than a copy of it) in connection with the investigation for the purposes of which the warrant was sought, or
(b) the device may be retained for so long as he considers that it is necessary to retain it in connection with that investigation,
as the case may be.
(8) If the Investigating Authority has reasonable grounds for believing—
(a) that any such document or device may have to be produced for the purposes of any legal proceedings, and
(b) that it might otherwise be unavailable for those purposes,
it may be retained until the proceedings are concluded.
(9) Nothing in this section authorises a person to take possession of, or make copies of or take extracts from, any document or information which, by virtue of section 64, could not be required to be produced or disclosed under section 62 or 63.
(10) In the application of this section to Scotland—
(a) subsection (1) has effect as if, for the words from the beginning to “satisfied—”, there were substituted “ A sheriff may issue a warrant under this section, on the application of a procurator fiscal, if he is satisfied— ”;
(b) subsections (1)(a) and (3)(b) have effect as if, for “in the information”, there were substituted “ in the application ”; and
(c) subsections (4) to (6) do not have effect.
(11) In the application of this section to Northern Ireland—
(a) subsection (1) has effect as if, for the words from the beginning to “laid”, there were substituted “A lay magistrate may issue a warrant under this section if, on complaint on oath made”; and
(b) subsections (1)(a) and (3)(b) have effect as if, for “in the information”, there were substituted “in the complaint”.
67 Offences in connection with disclosure notices or search warrants
(1) A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, he fails to comply with any requirement imposed on him under section 62 or 63.
(2) A person commits an offence if, in purported compliance with any requirement imposed on him under section 62 or 63—
(a) he makes a statement which is false or misleading, and
(b) he either knows that it is false or misleading or is reckless as to whether it is false or misleading.
“False or misleading” means false or misleading in a material particular.
(3) A person commits an offence if he wilfully obstructs any person in the exercise of any rights conferred by a warrant under section 66.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (3) is liable on summary conviction—
(a) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, or
(b) to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale,
or to both.
(5) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) is liable—
(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both;
(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both.
(6) In the application of this section to Scotland, the reference to 51 weeks in subsection (4)(a) is to be read as a reference to 12 months.
(7) In the application of this section to Northern Ireland—
(a) the reference to 51 weeks in subsection (4)(a) is to be read as a reference to 6 months; and
(b) the reference to 12 months in subsection (5)(b) is to be read as a reference to 6 months.
In Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (c. 16) (powers of seizure to which section 50 applies) after paragraph 73E (inserted by the Human Tissue Act 2004 (c. 30)) insert—
Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005
73F The power of seizure conferred by section 66 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (seizure of documents for purposes of investigation by DPP or other Investigating Authority).
(1) This section provides for the manner in which a disclosure notice may be given under section 62.
(2) The notice may be given to a person by—
(a) delivering it to him,
(b) leaving it at his proper address,
(c) sending it by post to him at that address.
(3) The notice may be given—
(a) in the case of a body corporate, to the secretary or clerk of that body;
(b) in the case of a partnership, to a partner or a person having the control or management of the partnership business;
(c) in the case of an unincorporated association (other than a partnership), to an officer of the association.
(4) For the purposes of this section and section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30) (service of documents by post) in its application to this section, the proper address of a person is his usual or last-known address (whether residential or otherwise), except that—
(a) in the case of a body corporate or its secretary or clerk, it is the address of the registered office of that body or its principal office in the United Kingdom,
(b) in the case of a partnership, a partner or a person having the control or management of the partnership business, it is that of the principal office of the partnership in the United Kingdom, and
(c) in the case of an unincorporated association (other than a partnership) or an officer of the association, it is that of the principal office of the association in the United Kingdom.
(5) This section does not apply to Scotland.
(1) In this Chapter—
“act of terrorism” includes anything constituting an action taken for the purposes of terrorism, within the meaning of the Terrorism Act 2000 (see section 1(5) of that Act);
“appropriate person” has the meaning given by section 62(2);
“the Investigating Authority” is to be construed in accordance with section 60(5) and (6);
“disclosure notice” has the meaning given by section 62(3);
“document” includes information recorded otherwise than in legible form.
“terrorism” has the same meaning as in the Terrorism Act 2000 (see section 1(1) to (4) of that Act);
“terrorist investigation” has the meaning given by section 60(7).
(2) In relation to information recorded otherwise than in legible form, any reference in this Chapter to the production of documents is a reference to the production of a copy of the information in legible form.
71 Assistance by offender: immunity from prosecution
(1) If a specified prosecutor thinks that for the purposes of the investigation or prosecution of an indictable offence or an offence triable either way it is appropriate to offer any person immunity from prosecution for any offence he may give the person a written notice under this subsection (an “immunity notice”).
(2) If a person is given an immunity notice, no proceedings for an offence of a description specified in the notice may be brought against that person in England and Wales or Northern Ireland except in circumstances specified in the notice.
(3) An immunity notice ceases to have effect in relation to the person to whom it is given if the person fails to comply with any conditions specified in the notice.
(4) Each of the following is a specified prosecutor—
(a) the Director of Public Prosecutions;
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(c) the Director of the Serious Fraud Office;
(d) the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland;
(da) the Financial Conduct Authority;
(daa) the Prudential Regulation Authority;
(dab) the Bank of England, where the indictable offence or offence triable either way which is being investigated or prosecuted is an offence under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
(dac) the Competition and Markets Authority;
(db) the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, acting personally;
(e) a prosecutor designated for the purposes of this section by a prosecutor mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (db).
(5) The Director of Public Prosecutions or a person designated by him under subsection (4)(e) may not give an immunity notice in relation to proceedings in Northern Ireland.
(6) The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland or a person designated by him under subsection (4)(e) may not give an immunity notice in relation to proceedings in England and Wales.
(6A) In exercising the power to designate a prosecutor under subsection (4)(e), the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Bank of England, the Competition and Markets Authority and the Secretary of State for Business and Trade may each designate only—
(a) one prosecutor (a “chief prosecutor”) to act at any one time, and
(b) an alternative prosecutor (a “deputy prosecutor”) to act as a specified prosecutor—
(i) when the chief prosecutor is unavailable, or
(ii) during any period when no chief prosecutor is designated.
(6B) Paragraph 8(1) of Schedule 1ZA ... to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (arrangements for discharging functions) and paragraph 17(1) of Schedule 6A to the Bank of England Act 1998 (delegation of functions) do not apply to the exercise of the powers conferred on the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority under this Chapter.
(6BA) Paragraph 11 of Schedule 1 to the Bank of England Act 1998 (power to delegate) does not apply to the exercise of the powers conferred on the Bank of England under this Chapter.
(6C) An immunity notice may be given by the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Bank of England, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade or a prosecutor designated by any of them under subsection (4)(e), only with the consent of the Attorney General.
(7) An immunity notice must not be given in relation to an offence under section 188 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40) (cartel offences).
(8) The Competition and Markets Authority, or a person designated by the Competition and Markets Authority under subsection (4)(e), may not give an immunity notice (but has the other powers available to specified prosecutors).
72 Assistance by offender: undertakings as to use of evidence
(1) If a specified prosecutor thinks that for the purposes of the investigation or prosecution of an indictable offence or an offence triable either way it is appropriate to offer any person an undertaking that information of any description will not be used against the person in any proceedings to which this section applies he may give the person a written notice under this subsection (a “restricted use undertaking”).
(2) This section applies to—
(a) any criminal proceedings;
(b) proceedings under Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29).
(3) If a person is given a restricted use undertaking the information described in the undertaking must not be used against that person in any proceedings to which this section applies brought in England and Wales or Northern Ireland except in the circumstances specified in the undertaking.
(4) A restricted use undertaking ceases to have effect in relation to the person to whom it is given if the person fails to comply with any conditions specified in the undertaking.
(5) The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland or a person designated by him under section 71(4)(e) may not give a restricted use undertaking in relation to proceedings in England and Wales.
(6) The Director of Public Prosecutions or a person designated by him under section 71(4)(e) may not give a restricted use undertaking in relation to proceedings in Northern Ireland.
(7) Specified prosecutor must be construed in accordance with section 71(4).
(1) This section applies in Northern Ireland if a defendant—
(a) following a plea of guilty is either convicted of an offence in proceedings in the Crown Court or is committed to the Crown Court for sentence, and
(b) has, pursuant to a written agreement made with a specified prosecutor, assisted or offered to assist the investigator or prosecutor in relation to that or any other offence.
(2) In determining what sentence to pass on the defendant the court may take into account the extent and nature of the assistance given or offered.
(3) If the court passes a sentence which is less than it would have passed but for the assistance given or offered, it must state in open court—
(a) that it has passed a lesser sentence than it would otherwise have passed, and
(b) what the greater sentence would have been.
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply if the court thinks that it would not be in the public interest to disclose that the sentence has been discounted; but in such a case the court must give written notice of the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3) to both the prosecutor and the defendant.
(5) Nothing in any enactment which—
(a) requires that a minimum sentence is passed in respect of any offence or an offence of any description or by reference to the circumstances of any offender (whether or not the enactment also permits the court to pass a lesser sentence in particular circumstances), or
(b) in the case of a sentence which is fixed by law, requires the court to take into account certain matters for the purposes of making an order which determines or has the effect of determining the minimum period of imprisonment which the offender must serve (whether or not the enactment also permits the court to fix a lesser period in particular circumstances),
affects the power of a court to act under subsection (2).
(6) If, in determining what sentence to pass on the defendant, the court takes into account the extent and nature of the assistance given or offered as mentioned in subsection (2), that does not prevent the court from also taking account of any other matter which it is entitled by virtue of any other enactment to take account of for the purposes of determining—
(a) the sentence, or
(b) in the case of a sentence which is fixed by law, any minimum period of imprisonment which an offender must serve.
(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(8) In this section—
(a) a reference to a sentence includes, in the case of a sentence which is fixed by law, a reference to the minimum period an offender is required to serve, and a reference to a lesser sentence must be construed accordingly;
(b) a reference to imprisonment includes a reference to any other custodial sentence within the meaning of ... Article 2 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/ 3160).
(9) An agreement with a specified prosecutor may provide for assistance to be given to that prosecutor or to any other prosecutor.
(10) References to a specified prosecutor must be construed in accordance with section 71.
(1) This section applies if in Northern Ireland—
(a) the Crown Court has passed a sentence on a person in respect of an offence, and
(b) the person falls within subsection (2).
(2) A person falls within this subsection if—
(a) he receives a discounted sentence in consequence of his having offered in pursuance of a written agreement to give assistance to the prosecutor or investigator of an offence but he knowingly fails to any extent to give assistance in accordance with the agreement;
(b) he receives a discounted sentence in consequence of his having offered in pursuance of a written agreement to give assistance to the prosecutor or investigator of an offence and, having given the assistance in accordance with the agreement, in pursuance of another written agreement gives or offers to give further assistance;
(c) he receives a sentence which is not discounted but in pursuance of a written agreement he subsequently gives or offers to give assistance to the prosecutor or investigator of an offence.
(3) A specified prosecutor may at any time refer the case back to the court by which the sentence was passed if—
(a) the person is still serving his sentence, and
(b) the specified prosecutor thinks it is in the interests of justice to do so.
(4) A case so referred must, if possible, be heard by the judge who passed the sentence to which the referral relates.
(5) If the court is satisfied that a person who falls within subsection (2)(a) knowingly failed to give the assistance it may substitute for the sentence to which the referral relates such greater sentence (not exceeding that which it would have passed but for the agreement to give assistance) as it thinks appropriate.
(6) In a case of a person who falls within subsection (2)(b) or (c) the court may—
(a) take into account the extent and nature of the assistance given or offered;
(b) substitute for the sentence to which the referral relates such lesser sentence as it thinks appropriate.
(7) Any part of the sentence to which the referral relates which the person has already served must be taken into account in determining when a greater or lesser sentence imposed by subsection (5) or (6) has been served.
(8) A person in respect of whom a reference is made under this section and the specified prosecutor may with the leave of the Court of Appeal appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision of the Crown Court.
(9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(10) A discounted sentence is a sentence passed in pursuance of section 73 or subsection (6) above.
(11) References—
(a) to a written agreement are to an agreement made in writing with a specified prosecutor;
(b) to a specified prosecutor must be construed in accordance with section 71.
(12) In relation to any proceedings under this section,
(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland may, in relation to proceedings in Northern Ireland, make an order containing provision corresponding to any provision in the Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1980 (subject to any specified modifications).
(13) A person does not fall within subsection (2) if—
(a) he was convicted of an offence for which the sentence is fixed by law, and
(b) he did not plead guilty to the offence for which he was sentenced.
(14) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(15) Subsections (3) to (9) of section 73 apply for the purposes of this section as they apply for the purposes of that section and any reference in those subsections to subsection (2) of that section must be construed as a reference to subsection (6) of this section.
75 Proceedings under section 74: exclusion of public
(1) This section applies to—
(a) any proceedings relating to a reference made under section 74(3), and
(b) any other proceedings arising in consequence of such proceedings.
(2) The court in which the proceedings will be or are being heard may make such order as it thinks appropriate—
(a) to exclude from the proceedings any person who does not fall within subsection (4);
(b) to give such directions as it thinks appropriate prohibiting the publication of any matter relating to the proceedings (including the fact that the reference has been made).
(3) An order under subsection (2) may be made only to the extent that the court thinks—
(a) that it is necessary to do so to protect the safety of any person, and
(b) that it is in the interests of justice.
(4) The following persons fall within this subsection—
(a) a member or officer of the court;
(b) a party to the proceedings;
(c) counsel or a solicitor for a party to the proceedings;
(d) a person otherwise directly concerned with the proceedings.
(5) This section does not affect any other power which the court has by virtue of any rule of law or other enactment—
(a) to exclude any person from proceedings, or
(b) to restrict the publication of any matter relating to proceedings.
75B Guidance about use of powers under sections 71 to 74
(1) The Attorney General may issue guidance to specified prosecutors about the exercise by them of any of their powers under sections 71 to 74.
(2) The Attorney General may from time to time revise any guidance issued under this section.
(3) In this section “specified prosecutor” is to be construed in accordance with section 71.
82 Protection of persons involved in investigations or proceedings arrangements for persons at risk
(1) A protection provider may make such arrangements as he considers appropriate for the purpose of protecting a person of a description specified in Schedule 5 if—
(a) the protection provider considers that the person's safety is at risk by virtue of his being a person of a description so specified, and
(b) the person is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom.
any person if he reasonably believes that the person's safety is at risk in view of the criminal conduct or possible criminal conduct of another person.
(2) A protection provider may vary or cancel any arrangements made by him under subsection (1) if he considers it appropriate to do so.
(3) If a protection provider makes arrangements under subsection (1) or cancels arrangements made under that subsection, he must record that he has done so.
(4) In determining whether to make arrangements under subsection (1), or to vary or cancel arrangements made under that subsection, a protection provider must, in particular, have regard to—
(a) the nature and extent of the risk to the person's safety,
(b) the cost of the arrangements,
(c) the likelihood that the person, and any person associated with him, will be able to adjust to any change in their circumstances which may arise from the making of the arrangements or from their variation or cancellation (as the case may be), and
(d) if the person is or might be a witness in legal proceedings (whether or not in the United Kingdom), the nature of the proceedings and the importance of his being a witness in those proceedings.
(5) A protection provider is—
(a) a chief officer of a police force in England and Wales;
(b) the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland;
(c) the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland;
(d) the Director General of the National Crime Agency;
(e) any of the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs;
(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(g) a person designated by a person mentioned in any of the preceding paragraphs to exercise his functions under this section.
(5A) In subsection (1), “criminal conduct” means conduct which constitutes an offence in England and Wales or Scotland, or would do if it occurred there.
(5B) Nothing in this section prevents a protection provider from making arrangements under this section for the protection of a person where non-statutory arrangements have already been made in respect of that person.
(6) The Secretary of State may, after consulting the Scottish Ministers and the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland, by order amend Schedule 5 so as to add, modify or omit any entry.
(7) Nothing in this section affects any power which a person has (otherwise than by virtue of this section) to make arrangements for the protection of another person.
(1) Arrangements may be made under section 82(1) by two or more protection providers acting jointly.
(2) If arrangements are made jointly by virtue of subsection (1), any powers conferred on a protection provider by this Chapter are exercisable in relation to the arrangements by—
(a) all of the protection providers acting together, or
(b) one of the protection providers, or some of the protection providers acting together, with the agreement of the others.
(3) Nothing in this section or in section 84 affects any power which a protection provider has to request or obtain assistance from another protection provider.
84 Transfer of responsibility to other protection provider
(1) A protection provider who makes arrangements under section 82(1) may agree with another protection provider that, as from a date specified in the agreement—
(a) the protection provider will cease to discharge any responsibilities which he has in relation to the arrangements, and
(b) the other protection provider will discharge those responsibilities instead.
(2) Any such agreement may include provision for the making of payments in respect of any costs incurred or likely to be incurred in consequence of the agreement.
(3) If an agreement is made under subsection (1), any powers conferred on a protection provider by this Chapter (including the power conferred by subsection (1)) are, as from the date specified in the agreement, exercisable by the other protection provider as if he had made the arrangements under section 82(1).
(4) Each protection provider who makes an agreement under subsection (1) must record that he has done so.
(1) This section applies if a protection provider requests assistance from a public authority in connection with the making of arrangements under section 82(1) or the implementation, variation or cancellation of such arrangements.
(2) The public authority must take reasonable steps to provide the assistance requested.
(3) “Public authority” includes any person certain of whose functions are of a public nature but does not include—
(a) a court or tribunal,
(b) either House of Parliament or a person exercising functions in connection with proceedings in Parliament, or
(c) the Scottish Parliament or a person exercising functions in connection with proceedings in the Scottish Parliament.
86 Offence of disclosing information about protection arrangements
(1) A person commits an offence if—
(a) he discloses information which relates to the making of arrangements under section 82(1) or to the implementation, variation or cancellation of such arrangements, and
(b) he knows or suspects that the information relates to the making of such arrangements or to their implementation, variation or cancellation.
(2) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—
(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both;
(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.
(3) In the application of this section to Scotland or Northern Ireland, the reference in subsection (2)(b) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to 6 months.
(1) A person (P) is not guilty of an offence under section 86 if—
(a) at the time when P disclosed the information, he was or had been a protected person,
(b) the information related only to arrangements made for the protection of P or for the protection of P and a person associated with him, and
(c) at the time when P disclosed the information, it was not likely that its disclosure would endanger the safety of any person.
(2) A person (D) is not guilty of an offence under section 86 if—
(a) D disclosed the information with the agreement of a person (P) who, at the time the information was disclosed, was or had been a protected person,
(b) the information related only to arrangements made for the protection of P or for the protection of P and a person associated with him, and
(c) at the time when D disclosed the information, it was not likely that its disclosure would endanger the safety of any person.
(3) A person is not guilty of an offence under section 86 if he disclosed the information for the purposes of safeguarding national security or for the purposes of the prevention, detection or investigation of crime.
(4) A person is not guilty of an offence under section 86 if—
(a) at the time when he disclosed the information, he was a protection provider or involved in the making of arrangements under section 82(1) or in the implementation, variation or cancellation of such arrangements, and
(b) he disclosed the information for the purposes of the making, implementation, variation or cancellation of such arrangements.
(5) The Secretary of State may by order make provision prescribing circumstances in which a person who discloses information as mentioned in section 86(1) is not guilty in England and Wales ... of an offence under that section.
(6) The Scottish Ministers may by order make provision prescribing circumstances in which a person who discloses information as mentioned in section 86(1) is not guilty in Scotland of an offence under that section.
(6A) The Department of Justice in Northern Ireland may by order make provision prescribing circumstances in which a person who discloses information as mentioned in section 86(1) is not guilty in Northern Ireland of an offence under that section.
(7) If sufficient evidence is adduced to raise an issue with respect to a defence under or by virtue of this section, the court or jury must assume that the defence is satisfied unless the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that it is not.
88 Offences of disclosing information relating to persons assuming new identity
(1) A person (P) commits an offence if—
(a) P is or has been a protected person,
(b) P assumed a new identity in pursuance of arrangements made under section 82(1),
(c) P discloses information which indicates that he assumed, or might have assumed, a new identity, and
(d) P knows or suspects that the information disclosed by him indicates that he assumed, or might have assumed, a new identity.
(2) A person (D) commits an offence if—
(a) D discloses information which relates to a person (P) who is or has been a protected person,
(b) P assumed a new identity in pursuance of arrangements made under section 82(1),
(c) the information disclosed by D indicates that P assumed, or might have assumed, a new identity, and
(d) D knows or suspects—
(i) that P is or has been a protected person, and
(ii) that the information disclosed by D indicates that P assumed, or might have assumed, a new identity.
(3) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—
(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both;
(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.
(4) In the application of this section to Scotland or Northern Ireland, the reference in subsection (3)(b) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to 6 months.
(1) P is not guilty of an offence under section 88(1) if, at the time when he disclosed the information, it was not likely that its disclosure would endanger the safety of any person.
(2) D is not guilty of an offence under section 88(2) if—
(a) D disclosed the information with the agreement of P, and
(b) at the time when D disclosed the information, it was not likely that its disclosure would endanger the safety of any person.
(3) D is not guilty of an offence under section 88(2) if he disclosed the information for the purposes of safeguarding national security or for the purposes of the prevention, detection or investigation of crime.
(4) D is not guilty of an offence under section 88(2) if—
(a) at the time when he disclosed the information, he was a protection provider or involved in the making of arrangements under section 82(1) or in the implementation, variation or cancellation of such arrangements, and
(b) he disclosed the information for the purposes of the making, implementation, variation or cancellation of such arrangements.
(5) The Secretary of State may by order make provision prescribing circumstances in which a person who discloses information as mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) of section 88 is not guilty in England and Wales ... of an offence under that subsection.
(6) The Scottish Ministers may by order make provision prescribing circumstances in which a person who discloses information as mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) of section 88 is not guilty in Scotland of an offence under that subsection.
(6A) The Department of Justice in Northern Ireland may by order make provision prescribing circumstances in which a person who discloses information as mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) of section 88 is not guilty in Northern Ireland of an offence under that subsection.
(7) If sufficient evidence is adduced to raise an issue with respect to a defence under or by virtue of this section, the court or jury must assume that the defence is satisfied unless the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that it is not.
(1) This section applies if—
(a) arrangements are made for the protection of a person under section 82(1), and
(b) the protected person assumes a new identity in pursuance of the arrangements.
(2) No proceedings (whether civil or criminal) may be brought against a person to whom this section applies in respect of the making by him of a false or misleading representation if the representation—
(a) relates to the protected person, and
(b) is made solely for the purpose of ensuring that the arrangements made for him to assume a new identity are, or continue to be, effective.
(3) The persons to whom this section applies are—
(a) the protected person;
(b) a person who is associated with the protected person;
(c) a protection provider;
(d) a person involved in the making of arrangements under section 82(1) or in the implementation, variation or cancellation of such arrangements.
(1) This section applies to arrangements which were, at any time before the commencement of section 82, made by a protection provider, or any person acting with his authority, for the purpose of protecting a person of a description specified in Schedule 5.
(2) If the following three conditions are satisfied, the arrangements are to be treated as having been made by the protection provider under section 82(1).
(3) The first condition is that the protection provider could have made the arrangements under section 82(1) had it been in force at the time when the arrangements were made.
(4) The second condition is that the arrangements were in operation immediately before the commencement of section 82.
(5) The third condition is that the protection provider determines that it is appropriate to treat the arrangements as having been made under section 82(1).
(6) A determination under subsection (5) may be made at any time before the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which section 82 comes into force.
(7) A protection provider must make a record of a determination under subsection (5).
(8) Subsection (9) applies if—
(a) at any time before the commencement of section 82, arrangements were made by a person specified in subsection (11), or any person acting with the authority of such a person, for the purpose of protecting a person of a description specified in Schedule 5, and
(b) functions in relation to the arrangements are, at any time before the end of the period of six months mentioned in subsection (6), exercisable by a protection provider.
(9) The provision made by subsections (1) to (7) applies in relation to the arrangements as if they had been made by the protection provider.
(10) Accordingly, if the three conditions mentioned in subsections (3) to (5) are satisfied in relation to the arrangements, they are to be treated, by virtue of subsection (2), as having been made by the protection provider under section 82(1).
(11) The persons specified in this subsection are—
(a) the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service;
(b) the Director General of the National Crime Squad;
(c) any of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.
(1) In this section—
(a) “the arrangements” are arrangements which are treated as having been made by a protection provider by virtue of section 91(2), and
(b) “the relevant date” is the date of the record made by the protection provider, in relation to the arrangements, in pursuance of section 91(7).
(2) A person does not commit an offence under section 86(1) by disclosing information relating to the arrangements unless the information is disclosed on or after the relevant date.
(3) But it is immaterial whether the information relates to something done in connection with the arrangements before or on or after the relevant date.
(4) A person does not commit an offence under section 88(1) or (2) by disclosing information relating to a person who assumed a new identity in pursuance of the arrangements unless the information is disclosed on or after the relevant date.
(5) But it is immaterial whether the person assumed a new identity before or on or after the relevant date.
(6) Section 90 applies in relation to a false or misleading representation relating to a person who assumed a new identity in pursuance of the arrangements only if the false or misleading representation is made on or after the relevant date.
(7) But it is immaterial whether the person assumed a new identity before or on or after the relevant date.
(1) This section applies if—
(a) a protection provider makes arrangements under section 82(1), or
(b) a protection provider determines under section 91(5) that it is appropriate to treat arrangements to which that section applies as having been made under section 82(1).
(2) The protection provider must inform the person to whom the arrangements relate of the provisions of this Chapter as they apply in relation to the arrangements.
(3) If the protection provider considers that the person would be unable to understand the information, by reason of his age or of any incapacity, the information must instead be given to a person who appears to the protection provider—
(a) to be interested in the welfare of the person to whom the arrangements relate, and
(b) to be the appropriate person to whom to give the information.
(4) If arrangements are made jointly under section 82(1) (by virtue of section 83), the protection providers involved in the arrangements must nominate one of those protection providers to perform the duties imposed by this section.
(1) This section applies for the purposes of this Chapter.
(2) “Protection provider” is to be construed in accordance with section 82.
(3) A person is a protected person if—
(a) arrangements have been made for his protection under subsection (1) of section 82, and
(b) the arrangements have not been cancelled under subsection (2) of that section.
(4) A person is associated with another person if any of the following apply—
(a) they are members of the same family;
(b) they live in the same household;
(c) they have lived in the same household.
(5) A person assumes a new identity if either or both of the following apply—
(a) he becomes known by a different name;
(b) he makes representations about his personal history or circumstances which are false or misleading.
(6) A reference to a person who is a witness in legal proceedings includes a reference to a person who provides any information or any document or other thing which might be used in evidence in those proceedings or which (whether or not admissible as evidence in those proceedings)—
(a) might tend to confirm evidence which will or might be admitted in those proceedings,
(b) might be referred to in evidence given in those proceedings by another witness, or
(c) might be used as the basis for any cross examination in the course of those proceedings,
and a reference to a person who might be, or to a person who has been, a witness in legal proceedings is to be construed accordingly.
(7) A reference to a person who is a witness in legal proceedings does not include a reference to a person who is an accused person in criminal proceedings unless he is a witness for the prosecution and a reference to a person who might be, or to a person who has been, a witness in legal proceedings is to be construed accordingly.
(8) A reference to a person who is or has been a member of staff of an organisation includes a reference to a person who is or has been seconded to the organisation to serve as a member of its staff.
(9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In section 9 of the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 (c. 5) (enforcement of overseas forfeiture orders), for subsection (6) (offences to which section applies) substitute—
(6) This section applies to any offence that corresponds to or is similar to—
(a) an offence under the law of England and Wales;
(b) an offence under the law of Scotland; or
(c) an offence under the law of Northern Ireland.