Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29)

(The document as of February, 2008)

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(6) In a case where subsection (5) applies, subsection (4) has effect as if for the reference to the 1985 Act there were substituted a reference to the 1913 Act.

422 Tainted gifts

(1) This section applies if a person whose estate is sequestrated in Scotland has made a tainted gift (whether directly or indirectly).

(2) No decree may be granted under the Bankruptcy Act 1621 (c. 18) or section 34 or 36 of the 1985 Act (gratuitous alienations and unfair preferences), or otherwise, in respect of the making of the gift at any time when--

(a) any property of the recipient of the tainted gift is subject to a restraint order under section 41, 120 or 190, or

(b) there is in force in respect of such property an order under section 50, 52, 128(3), 198 or 200.

(3) Any decree made under the Bankruptcy Act 1621 (c. 18) or section 34 or 36 of the 1985 Act, or otherwise, after an order mentioned in subsection (2)(a) or (b) is discharged must take into account any realisation under Part 2, 3 or 4 of this Act of property held by the recipient of the tainted gift.

(4) A person makes a tainted gift for the purposes of this section if he makes a tainted gift within the meaning of Part 2, 3 or 4.

Bankruptcy in Northern Ireland

423 Modifications of the 1989 Order

(1) This section applies if a person is adjudged bankrupt in Northern Ireland.

(2) The following property is excluded from his estate for the purposes of Part 9 of the 1989 Order--

(a) property for the time being subject to a restraint order which was made under section 41, 120 or 190 before the order adjudging him bankrupt;

(b) any property in respect of which an order under section 50 or 52 is in force;

(d) any property in respect of which an order under section 198 or 200 is in force.

(3) Subsection (2)(a) applies to heritable property in Scotland only if the restraint order is recorded in the General Register of Sasines or registered in the Land Register of Scotland before the order adjudging the person bankrupt.

(4) If in the case of a debtor an interim receiver stands at any time appointed under Article 259 of the 1989 Order and any property of the debtor is then subject to a restraint order made under section 41, 120 or 190, the powers conferred on the receiver by virtue of that Order do not apply to property then subject to the restraint order.

424 Restriction of powers

(1) If a person is adjudged bankrupt in Northern Ireland the powers referred to in subsection (2) must not be exercised in relation to the property referred to in subsection (3).

(2) These are the powers--

(a) the powers conferred on a court by sections 41 to 67 and the powers of a receiver appointed under section 48, 50 or 52;

(b) the powers conferred on a court by sections 120 to 136 and Schedule 3 and the powers of an administrator appointed under section 125 or 128(3);

(c) the powers conferred on a court by sections 190 to 215 and the powers of a receiver appointed under section 196, 198 or 200.

(3) This is the property--

(a) property which is for the time being comprised in the bankrupt's estate for the purposes of Part 9 of the 1989 Order;

(b) property in respect of which his trustee in bankruptcy may (without leave of the court) serve a notice under Article 280 or 281 of the 1989 Order (after-acquired property etc);

(c) property which is to be applied for the benefit of creditors of the bankrupt by virtue of a condition imposed under Article 254(2)(c) of the 1989 Order;

(d) in a case where a confiscation order has been made under section 6 or 156 of this Act, any sums remaining in the hands of a receiver appointed under section 50, 52, 198 or 200 of this Act after the amount required to be paid under the confiscation order has been fully paid;

(e) in a case where a confiscation order has been made under section 92 of this Act, any sums remaining in the hands of an administrator appointed under section 128 of this Act after the amount required to be paid under the confiscation order has been fully paid.

(4) But nothing in the 1989 Order must be taken to restrict (or enable the restriction of) the powers mentioned in subsection (2).

(5) In a case where a petition in bankruptcy was presented or an adjudication in bankruptcy was made before 1 October 1991 (when the 1989 Order came into force) this section has effect with these modifications--

(a) for the reference in subsection (3)(a) to the bankrupt's estate for the purposes of Part 9 of that Order substitute a reference to the property of the bankrupt for the purposes of the Bankruptcy Acts (Northern Ireland) 1857 to 1980;

(b) omit subsection (3)(b);

(c) for the reference in subsection (3)(c) to Article 254(2)(c) of the 1989 Order substitute a reference to Articles 28(4), (5)(c) and (11) and 30(6)(c) of the Bankruptcy Amendment (Northern Ireland) Order 1980 (S.I. 1980/561 (N.I. 4));

(d) for the reference in subsection (4) to the 1989 Order substitute a reference to the Bankruptcy Acts (Northern Ireland) 1857 to 1980.

425 Tainted gifts

(1) This section applies if a person who is adjudged bankrupt in Northern Ireland has made a tainted gift (whether directly or indirectly).

(2) No order may be made under Article 312, 313 or 367 of the 1989 Order (avoidance of certain transactions) in respect of the making of the gift at any time when--

(a) any property of the recipient of the tainted gift is subject to a restraint order under section 41, 120 or 190, or

(b) there is in force in respect of such property an order under section 50, 52, 128(3), 198 or 200.

(3) Any order made under Article 312, 313 or 367 of the 1989 Order after an order mentioned in subsection (2)(a) or (b) is discharged must take into account any realisation under Part 2, 3 or 4 of this Act of property held by the recipient of the tainted gift.

(4) A person makes a tainted gift for the purposes of this section if he makes a tainted gift within the meaning of Part 2, 3 or 4.

(a) for a reference to Article 312 of the 1989 Order substitute a reference to section 12 of the Bankruptcy Amendment Act (Northern Ireland) 1929 (c. 1 (N.I.));

(b) for a reference to Article 367 of the 1989 Order substitute a reference to section 10 of the Conveyancing Act (Ireland) 1634 (c. 3).

Winding up in England and Wales and Scotland

426 Winding up under the 1986 Act

(1) In this section "company" means any company which may be wound up under the 1986 Act.

(2) If an order for the winding up of a company is made or it passes a resolution for its voluntary winding up, the functions of the liquidator (or any provisional liquidator) are not exercisable in relation to the following property--

(a) property for the time being subject to a restraint order which was made under section 41, 120 or 190 before the relevant time;

(b) any property in respect of which an order under section 50 or 52 is in force;

(d) any property in respect of which an order under section 198 or 200 is in force.

(4) If an order for the winding up of a company is made or it passes a resolution for its voluntary winding up the powers referred to in subsection (5) must not be exercised in the way mentioned in subsection (6) in relation to any property--

(a) which is held by the company, and

(b) in relation to which the functions of the liquidator are exercisable.

(5) These are the powers--

(a) the powers conferred on a court by sections 41 to 67 and the powers of a receiver appointed under section 48, 50 or 52;

(b) the powers conferred on a court by sections 120 to 136 and Schedule 3 and the powers of an administrator appointed under section 125 or 128(3);

(c) the powers conferred on a court by sections 190 to 215 and the powers of a receiver appointed under section 196, 198 or 200.

(6) The powers must not be exercised--

(a) so as to inhibit the liquidator from exercising his functions for the purpose of distributing property to the company's creditors;

(b) so as to prevent the payment out of any property of expenses (including the remuneration of the liquidator or any provisional liquidator) properly incurred in the winding up in respect of the property.

(7) But nothing in the 1986 Act must be taken to restrict (or enable the restriction of) the exercise of the powers referred to in subsection (5).

(8) For the purposes of the application of Parts 4 and 5 of the 1986 Act (winding up) to a company which the Court of Session has jurisdiction to wind up, a person is not a creditor in so far as any sum due to him by the company is due in respect of a confiscation order made under section 6, 92 or 156.

(9) The relevant time is--

(a) if no order for the winding up of the company has been made, the time of the passing of the resolution for voluntary winding up;

(b) if such an order has been made, but before the presentation of the petition for the winding up of the company by the court such a resolution has been passed by the company, the time of the passing of the resolution;

(10) In a case where a winding up of a company commenced or is treated as having commenced before 29 December 1986, this section has effect with the following modifications--

(a) in subsections (1) and (7) for "the 1986 Act" substitute "the Companies Act 1985";

(b) in subsection (8) for "Parts 4 and 5 of the 1986 Act" substitute "Parts 20 and 21 of the Companies Act 1985".

427 Tainted gifts

(1) In this section "company" means any company which may be wound up under the 1986 Act.

(2) This section applies if--

(a) an order for the winding up of a company is made or it passes a resolution for its voluntary winding up, and

(b) it has made a tainted gift (whether directly or indirectly).

(3) No order may be made under section 238, 239 or 423 of the 1986 Act (avoidance of certain transactions) and no decree may be granted under section 242 or 243 of that Act (gratuitous alienations and unfair preferences), or otherwise, in respect of the making of the gift at any time when--

(a) any property of the recipient of the tainted gift is subject to a restraint order under section 41, 120 or 190, or

(b) there is in force in respect of such property an order under section 50, 52, 128(3), 198 or 200.

(4) Any order made under section 238, 239 or 423 of the 1986 Act or decree granted under section 242 or 243 of that Act, or otherwise, after an order mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (b) is discharged must take into account any realisation under Part 2, 3 or 4 of this Act of property held by the recipient of the tainted gift.

(5) A person makes a tainted gift for the purposes of this section if he makes a tainted gift within the meaning of Part 2, 3 or 4.

(6) In a case where the winding up of a company commenced or is treated as having commenced before 29 December 1986 this section has effect with the substitution--

(a) for references to section 239 of the 1986 Act of references to section 615 of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6);

(b) for references to section 242 of the 1986 Act of references to section 615A of the Companies Act 1985;

Winding up in Northern Ireland

428 Winding up under the 1989 Order

(1) In this section "company" means any company which may be wound up under the 1989 Order.

(a) property for the time being subject to a restraint order which was made under section 41, 120 or 190 before the relevant time;

(b) any property in respect of which an order under section 50 or 52 is in force;

(d) any property in respect of which an order under section 198 or 200 is in force.

(a) which is held by the company, and

(b) in relation to which the functions of the liquidator are exercisable.

(5) These are the powers--

(a) the powers conferred on a court by sections 41 to 67 and the powers of a receiver appointed under section 48, 50 or 52;

(b) the powers conferred on a court by sections 120 to 136 and Schedule 3 and the powers of an administrator appointed under section 125 or 128(3);

(c) the powers conferred on a court by sections 190 to 215 and the powers of a receiver appointed under section 196, 198 or 200.

(6) The powers must not be exercised--

(a) so as to inhibit the liquidator from exercising his functions for the purpose of distributing property to the company's creditors;

(7) But nothing in the 1989 Order must be taken to restrict (or enable the restriction of) the exercise of the powers referred to in subsection (5).

(8) The relevant time is--

(a) if no order for the winding up of the company has been made, the time of the passing of the resolution for voluntary winding up;

(9) In a case where a winding up of a company commenced or is treated as having commenced before 1 October 1991, this section has effect with the substitution for references to the 1989 Order of references to the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (S.I. 1986/1032 (N.I. 6)).

429 Tainted gifts

(1) In this section "company" means any company which may be wound up under the 1989 Order.

(2) This section applies if--

(a) an order for the winding up of a company is made or it passes a resolution for its voluntary winding up, and

(b) it has made a tainted gift (whether directly or indirectly).

(3) No order may be made under Article 202, 203 or 367 of the 1989 Order (avoidance of certain transactions) in respect of the making of the gift at any time when--

(a) any property of the recipient of the tainted gift is subject to a restraint order under section 41, 120 or 190, or

(b) there is in force in respect of such property an order under section 50, 52, 128(3), 198 or 200.

(4) Any order made under Article 202, 203 or 367 of the 1989 Order after an order mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (b) is discharged must take into account any realisation under Part 2, 3 or 4 of this Act of property held by the recipient of the tainted gift.

(5) A person makes a tainted gift for the purposes of this section if he makes a tainted gift within the meaning of Part 2, 3 or 4.

Floating charges

430 Floating charges

(1) In this section "company" means a company which may be wound up under

(a) the 1986 Act, or

(b) the 1989 Order.

(2) If a company holds property which is subject to a floating charge, and a receiver has been appointed by or on the application of the holder of the charge, the functions of the receiver are not exercisable in relation to the following property--

(a) property for the time being subject to a restraint order which was made under section 41, 120 or 190 before the appointment of the receiver;

(b) any property in respect of which an order under section 50 or 52 is in force;

(d) any property in respect of which an order under section 198 or 200 is in force.

(4) If a company holds property which is subject to a floating charge, and a receiver has been appointed by or on the application of the holder of the charge, the powers referred to in subsection (5) must not be exercised in the way mentioned in subsection (6) in relation to any property--

(a) which is held by the company, and

(b) in relation to which the functions of the receiver are exercisable.

(5) These are the powers--

(a) the powers conferred on a court by sections 41 to 67 and the powers of a receiver appointed under section 48, 50 or 52;

(b) the powers conferred on a court by sections 120 to 136 and Schedule 3 and the powers of an administrator appointed under section 125 or 128(3);

(c) the powers conferred on a court by sections 190 to 215 and the powers of a receiver appointed under section 196, 198 or 200.

(6) The powers must not be exercised--

(a) so as to inhibit the receiver from exercising his functions for the purpose of distributing property to the company's creditors;

(b) so as to prevent the payment out of any property of expenses (including the remuneration of the receiver) properly incurred in the exercise of his functions in respect of the property.

(7) But nothing in the 1986 Act or the 1989 Order must be taken to restrict (or enable the restriction of) the exercise of the powers referred to in subsection (5).

(8) In this section "floating charge" includes a floating charge within the meaning of section 462 of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6).

Limited liability partnerships

431 Limited liability partnerships

(1) In sections 426, 427 and 430 "company" includes a limited liability partnership which may be wound up under the 1986 Act.

(2) A reference in those sections to a company passing a resolution for its voluntary winding up is to be construed in relation to a limited liability partnership as a reference to the partnership making a determination for its voluntary winding up.

Insolvency practitioners

432 Insolvency practitioners

(1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply if a person acting as an insolvency practitioner seizes or disposes of any property in relation to which his functions are not exercisable because--

(a) it is for the time being subject to a restraint order made under section 41, 120 or 190, or

(b) it is for the time being subject to an interim receiving order made under section 246 or an interim administration order made under section 256,

and at the time of the seizure or disposal he believes on reasonable grounds that he is entitled (whether in pursuance of an order of a court or otherwise) to seize or dispose of the property.

(2) He is not liable to any person in respect of any loss or damage resulting from the seizure or disposal, except so far as the loss or damage is caused by his negligence.

(3) He has a lien on the property or the proceeds of its sale--

(a) for such of his expenses as were incurred in connection with the liquidation, bankruptcy, sequestration or other proceedings in relation to which he purported to make the seizure or disposal, and

(b) for so much of his remuneration as may reasonably be assigned to his acting in connection with those proceedings.

(4) Subsection (2) does not prejudice the generality of any provision of the 1985 Act, the 1986 Act, the 1989 Order or any other Act or Order which confers protection from liability on him.

(5) Subsection (7) applies if--

(a) property is subject to a restraint order made under section 41, 120 or 190,

(b) a person acting as an insolvency practitioner incurs expenses in respect of property subject to the restraint order, and

(6) Subsection (7) also applies if--

(a) property is subject to a restraint order made under section 41, 120 or 190,

(b) a person acting as an insolvency practitioner incurs expenses which are not ones in respect of property subject to the restraint order, and

(c) the expenses are ones which (but for the effect of the restraint order) might have been met by taking possession of and realising property subject to it.

(7) Whether or not he has seized or disposed of any property, he is entitled to payment of the expenses under--

(a) section 54(2), 55(3), 56(2) or 57(3) if the restraint order was made under section 41;

(b) section 130(3) or 131(3) if the restraint order was made under section 120;

(8) Subsection (10) applies if--

(a) property is subject to an interim receiving order made under section 246 or an interim administration order made under section 256,

(b) a person acting as an insolvency practitioner incurs expenses in respect of property subject to the order, and

(9) Subsection (10) also applies if--

(a) property is subject to an interim receiving order made under section 246 or an interim administration order made under section 256,

(b) a person acting as an insolvency practitioner incurs expenses which are not ones in respect of property subject to the order, and

(c) the expenses are ones which (but for the effect of the order) might have been met by taking possession of and realising property subject to it.

(10) Whether or not he has seized or disposed of any property, he is entitled to payment of the expenses under section 280.

433 Meaning of insolvency practitioner

(1) This section applies for the purposes of section 432.

(2) A person acts as an insolvency practitioner if he so acts within the meaning given by section 388 of the 1986 Act or Article 3 of the 1989 Order; but this is subject to subsections (3) to (5).

(3) The expression "person acting as an insolvency practitioner" includes the official receiver acting as receiver or manager of the property concerned.

(4) In applying section 388 of the 1986 Act under subsection (2) above--

(a) the reference in section 388(2)(a) to a permanent or interim trustee in sequestration must be taken to include a reference to a trustee in sequestration;

(b) section 388(5) (which includes provision that nothing in the section applies to anything done by the official receiver or the Accountant in Bankruptcy) must be ignored.

(5) In applying Article 3 of the 1989 Order under subsection (2) above, paragraph (5) (which includes provision that nothing in the Article applies to anything done by the official receiver) must be ignored.

Interpretation

434 Interpretation

(1) The following paragraphs apply to references to Acts or Orders--

(a) the 1913 Act is the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1913 (c. 20);

(b) the 1914 Act is the Bankruptcy Act 1914 (c. 59);

(d) the 1986 Act is the Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45);

(e) the 1989 Order is the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/2405 (N.I. 19)).

(2) An award of sequestration is made on the date of sequestration within the meaning of section 12(4) of the 1985 Act.

(3) This section applies for the purposes of this Part.

Part 10 Information

England and Wales and Northern Ireland

435 Use of information by Director

Information obtained by or on behalf of the Director in connection with the exercise of any of his functions may be used by him in connection with his exercise of any of his other functions.

436 Disclosure of information to Director

(1) Information which is held by or on behalf of a permitted person (whether it was obtained before or after the coming into force of this section) may be disclosed to the Director for the purpose of the exercise by the Director of his functions.

(2) A disclosure under this section is not to be taken to breach any restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).

(3) But nothing in this section authorises the making of a disclosure--

(a) which contravenes the Data Protection Act 1998 (c. 29);

(b) which is prohibited by Part 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (c. 23).

(4) This section does not affect a power to disclose which exists apart from this section.

(5) These are permitted persons--

(a) a constable;

(b) the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service;

(d) the Director of the Serious Fraud Office;

(e) the Commissioners of Inland Revenue;

(f) the Commissioners of Customs and Excise;

(g) the Director of Public Prosecutions;

(h) the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.

(6) The Secretary of State may by order designate as permitted persons other persons who exercise functions which he believes are of a public nature.

(7) But an order under subsection (6) must specify the functions in respect of which the designation is made.

(8) Information must not be disclosed under this section on behalf of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue or on behalf of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise unless the Commissioners concerned authorise the disclosure.

(9) The power to authorise a disclosure under subsection (8) may be delegated (either generally or for a specified purpose)--

(a) in the case of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, to an officer of the Board of Inland Revenue;

(b) in the case of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, to a customs officer.

437 Further disclosure

(1) Subsection (2) applies to information obtained under section 436 from the Commissioners of Inland Revenue or from the Commissioners of Customs and Excise or from a person acting on behalf of either of them.

(2) Such information must not be further disclosed except--

(a) for a purpose connected with the exercise of the Director's functions, and

(b) with the consent of the Commissioners concerned.

(3) Consent under subsection (2) may be given--

(a) in relation to a particular disclosure;

(b) in relation to disclosures made in circumstances specified or described in the consent.

(4) The power to consent to further disclosure under subsection (2)(b) may be delegated (either generally or for a specified purpose)--

(a) in the case of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, to an officer of the Board of Inland Revenue;

(b) in the case of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, to a customs officer.

(5) Subsection (6) applies to information obtained under section 436 from a permitted person other than the Commissioners of Inland Revenue or the Commissioners of Customs and Excise or a person acting on behalf of either of them.

(6) A permitted person who discloses such information to the Director may make the disclosure subject to such conditions as to further disclosure by the Director as the permitted person thinks appropriate; and the information must not be further disclosed in contravention of the conditions.

438 Disclosure of information by Director

(1) Information obtained by or on behalf of the Director in connection with the exercise of any of his functions may be disclosed by him if the disclosure is for the purposes of any of the following--

(a) any criminal investigation which is being or may be carried out, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere;

(b) any criminal proceedings which have been or may be started, whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere;

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