Landlord ordered to pay £230k over flats that were below minimum size standards and not in compliance with planning permission – Local Government Lawyer

‘A landlord in London who “illegally squashed” seven flats into a development that only had planning permission for six, has been ordered to pay £230,000 under a confiscation order.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th May 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Case Comment: Crown Prosecution Service v Aquila Advisory Ltd [2021] UKSC 49 – UKSC Blog

‘In this post, Amy Wilkinson, a senior associate in CMS’ financial crime team, comments on the decision of the UK Supreme Court in Crown Prosecution Service v Aquila Advisory Ltd [2021] UKSC 49. On 3 November 2021, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the appeal and ruled in favour of Aquila Advisory Ltd. The decision concerns attribution of directors’ criminal actions and who should have priority over assets derived from their criminal schemes.’

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UKSC Blog, 4th May 2022

Source: ukscblog.com

Police and Gambling Commission secure £140k confiscation order against defendant over illegal lotteries – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 21st, 2022 in confiscation, gambling, news, proceeds of crime by sally

‘A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing has seen almost £140,000 confiscated from a man who ran illegal lotteries from Middlesbrough.’

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Local Government Lawyer, April 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Illicit finance crackdown only ‘first step in ensuring UK no longer oligarch safe haven’, MPs say – The Independent

‘Government efforts to crackdown down on illicit finance in the UK are only a “first step” in stopping the country being a safe haven for oligarchs, MPs on the influential intelligence and security committee have stressed.’

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The Independent, 15th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Russian oligarchs in UK face new laws tackling ‘dirty money’ – The Guardian

‘Boris Johnson has said that Russian oligarchs will no longer have a hiding place for their “ill-gotten gains” in the UK under legislation being introduced in parliament this week.’

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The Guardian, 28th February 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Stephen Lawrence murder: Jamie Acourt ‘cannot repay £90k’ from drugs plot – BBC News

‘One of the men suspected of murdering Stephen Lawrence in a racist attack has said he cannot pay £90,000 he made from a £3m drugs plot.’

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BBC News, 18th January 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK sets global transparency standard for asset returns – Home Office

‘The UK is the first country to publish its policy and principles on international asset returns.’

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Home Office, 13th January 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Council prosecution sees dog breeders ordered to pay £450k+ – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 13th, 2022 in dogs, guilty pleas, licensing, news, proceeds of crime by tracey

‘A couple who illegally bred dogs have been ordered to pay more than £450,000 following a successful prosecution by Vale of Glamorgan Council.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th January 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Private landlord ordered to pay £65k after breaching planning enforcement notice over unlawful HMO – Local Government Lawyer

‘A landlord has been ordered to pay more than £64,000 for breaching a planning enforcement notice served on a property in Barking being used illegally as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th January 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court rejects attempt to block claims against lawyers – Legal Futures

Posted November 8th, 2021 in fees, injunctions, law firms, news, proceeds of crime by tracey

‘The High Court has refused to make an order to prevent future claims on a law firm’s fees that claimants may argue came from stolen funds.’

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Legal Futures, 8th November 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

But the Assets are Already Frozen! Where Civil Freezing Orders and Criminal Restraint Orders Collide – Gatehouse Chambers

‘The Claimants were two companies and their respective administrators, who alleged in the main proceedings that substantial sums had misappropriated, by or for the benefit of the Defendants, or otherwise in circumstances giving rise to liability on the part of the Defendants.’

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Gatehouse Chambers, 27th July 2021

Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk

Assessing Beneficial Ownership Under POCA. Is the Crown Court the Appropriate Forum? by Stephen Wood QC – Broadway House Chambers

Posted July 29th, 2021 in chambers articles, courts, Crown Court, news, proceeds of crime by sally

‘Practitioners will be, by now, familiar with the provisions of section 10A POCA, which permits a Court to make a conclusive determination of the extent of a Defendant’s interest, where a third party may hold an interest in the property under consideration.’

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Broadway House Chambers, 13th July 2021

Source: broadwayhouse.co.uk

Essex lorry deaths: Man ordered to pay £3k to families – BBC News

‘A man linked to the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex is to pay £3,000 in compensation to their families.’

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BBC News, 24th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court of Appeal allows appeal against order removing new-born baby after mother with learning difficulties not given opportunity to put her point of view – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal against an order for the separation of a new-born child from his mother, who has learning difficulties.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th May 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Former Met officer who used position to aid criminal gang jailed – The Guardian

‘A former Metropolitan police officer who used his position to help a criminal gang seize money from other offenders has been jailed for eight years.’

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The Guardian, 13th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court of Appeal allows appeal by council over £270 confiscation order for unlawful flats conversion when it claimed for more than £455,000 – Local Government Lawyer

‘The London Borough of Barnet has won an appeal after the Crown Court imposed a confiscation order of £270 when the council had contended for more than £455,000.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th April 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Freezing and confiscation under the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement – 5SAH

Posted April 9th, 2021 in brexit, chambers articles, confiscation, news, proceeds of crime by sally

‘This contribution presents a critical and practical analysis of the changes the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement brings to the recognition and enforcement of freezing and confiscation orders. It provides an overview of how this area of law may develop in the future post-Brexit.’

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5SAH, 8th March 2021

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Judge orders defendant to pay back £90,000 after Right to Buy fraud – Local Government Lawyer

‘A defendant who admitted fraud under the Right to Buy scheme has been ordered to pay back more than £90,000.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 29th March 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Partners and Confiscation – Carmelite Chambers

‘Data from 2019 suggests that 26% of prosecutions brought against women, of which only 10% are for indictable offences. The same data indicates that women account for just 5% of the prison population.’

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Carmelite Chambers, March 2021

Source: www.carmelitechambers.co.uk

Partners and Confiscation – Carmelite Chambers

‘Richard Furlong and Alexandra Scott provide a brief guide to defending wives and partners in confiscation proceedings.’

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Carmelite Chambers, 10th March 2021

Source: www.carmelitechambers.co.uk