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Section 339ZH: Information orders

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 · 2002 c. 29View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 7: Money Laundering

A magistrates' court or (in Scotland) the sheriff may, on an application made by a relevant person, make an information order if satisfied that one of conditions 1 to 4 is met.

The application must—

specify or describe the information sought under the order, and
specify the person from whom the information is sought ("the respondent").

An information order is an order requiring the respondent to provide—

the information specified or described in the application for the order, or
such other information as the court or sheriff making the order thinks appropriate,

so far as the information is in the possession, or under the control, of the respondent.

Condition 1 for the making of an information order is met if—

the information required to be given under the order would relate to a matter arising from a disclosure made under this Part,
the respondent is the person who made the disclosure or is otherwise carrying on a business in the regulated sector,
the information would assist in investigating whether a person is engaged in money laundering or in determining whether an investigation of that kind should be started, and
it is reasonable in all the circumstances for the information to be provided.

Condition 2 for the making of an information order is met if—

the information required to be given under the order would relate to a matter arising from a disclosure made under a corresponding disclosure requirement,
an external request has been made to the National Crime Agency for the provision of information in connection with that disclosure,
the respondent is carrying on a business in the regulated sector,
the information is likely to be of substantial value to the authority that made the external request in determining any matter in connection with the disclosure, and
it is reasonable in all the circumstances for the information to be provided.

For the purposes of subsection (5), "external request" means a request made by an authority of a foreign country which has responsibility in that country for carrying out investigations into whether a corresponding money laundering offence has been committed.

Condition 3 for the making of an information order is met if—

the information would assist an authorised NCA officer to conduct—
operational analysis of information that is relevant to money laundering or suspected money laundering, or
strategic analysis identifying trends or patterns in the conduct of money laundering, or systemic deficiencies or vulnerabilities which have been, are being or are likely to be, exploited for the purposes of money laundering,

for the purposes of the criminal intelligence function of the National Crime Agency, so far as it relates to money laundering,

the respondent is a person carrying on a business in the regulated sector,
where the application for the order is made to a magistrates' court, the person making the application has had regard to the code of practice under section 339ZL,
where the application for the order is made to the sheriff—
the application is made by a procurator fiscal at the request of the Director General of the National Crime Agency or an authorised NCA officer, and
the person making that request has had regard to the code of practice under section 339ZL, and
it is reasonable in all the circumstances for the information to be provided.

Condition 4 for the making of an information order is met if—

a request has been made by a foreign FIU to the National Crime Agency for the provision of the information required to be given under the order,
an authorised NCA officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the request was made only for the purpose of assisting the foreign FIU to conduct one or both of the following—
operational analysis of information that is relevant to money laundering or suspected money laundering, or
strategic analysis identifying trends or patterns in the conduct of money laundering, or systematic deficiencies or vulnerabilities which have been, are being or are likely to be, exploited for the purposes of money laundering,

and that the information is likely to be of substantial value to the foreign FIU in carrying out such analysis,

the provision of the information by the National Crime Agency to the foreign FIU would be for the purposes of the criminal intelligence function of the National Crime Agency, so far as it relates to money laundering,
the respondent is a person carrying on a business in the regulated sector,
where the application for the order is made to a magistrates' court, the person making the application has had regard to the code of practice under section 339ZL,
where the application for the order is made to the sheriff—
the application is made by a procurator fiscal at the request of the Director General of the National Crime Agency or an authorised NCA officer, and
the person making that request has had regard to the code of practice under section 339ZL, and
it is reasonable in all the circumstances for the information to be provided.

An information order must specify—

how the information required under the order is to be provided, and
the date by which it is to be provided.

If a person fails to comply with an information order made by a magistrates' court, the magistrates' court may order the person to pay an amount not exceeding £5,000.

The sum mentioned in subsection (8) is to be treated as adjudged to be paid by a conviction of the court for the purposes of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 or (as the case may be) the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26)).

In order to take account of changes in the value of money the Secretary of State may by regulations substitute another sum for the sum for the time being specified in subsection (8).

Schedule 9 has effect for the purposes of this section in determining what is a business in the regulated sector.

In this section—

  • "authorised NCA officer" means a National Crime Agency officer authorised by the Director General (whether generally or specifically) for the purposes of this section;

  • "corresponding disclosure requirement" means a requirement to make a disclosure under the law of the foreign country concerned that corresponds to a requirement imposed by virtue of this Part;

  • "corresponding money laundering offence" means an offence under the law of the foreign country concerned that would, if done in the United Kingdom, constitute an offence specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of section 340(11);

  • "the criminal intelligence function" has the meaning given by section 1(5) of the Crime and Courts Act 2013;

  • "foreign country" means a country or territory outside the United Kingdom;

  • "foreign FIU" means a body in a foreign country carrying out the functions of a financial intelligence unit within the meaning of Recommendation 29 of the Financial Action Task Force (as that Recommendation has effect from time to time);

  • "relevant person" means—

    (a)in the case of an application to a magistrates' court, the Director General of the National Crime Agency or any authorised NCA officer, or

    (b)in the case of an application to the sheriff, a procurator fiscal.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.