Section 40: Conditions for exercise of powers

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

Part 2: Confiscation: England and Wales

The Crown Court may exercise the powers conferred by section 41 if any of the following conditions is satisfied.

The first condition is that—

a criminal investigation has been started in England and Wales with regard to an offence, and
there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the alleged offender has benefited from his criminal conduct.

The second condition is that—

proceedings for an offence have been started in England and Wales and not concluded, and
there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant has benefited from his criminal conduct.

The third condition is that—

an application by the prosecutor ... has been made under section 19, 20, 27 or 28 and not concluded, or the court believes that such an application is to be made, and
there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant has benefited from his criminal conduct.

The fourth condition is that—

an application by the prosecutor ... has been made under section 21 and not concluded, or the court believes that such an application is to be made, and
there is reasonable cause to believe that the court will decide under that section that the amount found under the new calculation of the defendant's benefit exceeds the relevant amount (as defined in that section).

The fifth condition is that—

an application by the prosecutor ... has been made under section 22 and not concluded, or the court believes that such an application is to be made, and
there is reasonable cause to believe that the court will decide under that section that the amount found under the new calculation of the available amount exceeds the relevant amount (as defined in that section).

The second condition is not satisfied if the court believes that—

there has been undue delay in continuing the proceedings, or
the prosecutor does not intend to proceed.

If an application mentioned in the third, fourth or fifth condition has been made the condition is not satisfied if the court believes that—

there has been undue delay in continuing the application, or
the prosecutor ... does not intend to proceed.

If the first condition is satisfied—

references in this Part to the defendant are to the alleged offender;
references in this Part to the prosecutor are to the person the court believes is to have conduct of any proceedings for the offence;
section 77(9) has effect as if proceedings for the offence had been started against the defendant when the investigation was started.

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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.