Lawfulness of search warrant and detention irrelevant to forfeiture of cash – UK Police Law Blog

Posted August 11th, 2017 in forfeiture, money laundering, news, proceeds of crime, search & seizure, warrants by tracey

‘In Campbell v Bromley Magistrates’ Court [2017] EWCA Civ 1161 the Court of Appeal has confirmed that that there are no “fruits of the forbidden tree” consequences when it comes to the forfeiture of cash seized in accordance with Chapter 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (“POCA”).’

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UK Police Law Blog, 10th August 2017

Source: ukpolicelawblog.com

Launch of consultation on Criminal Finances Act Codes of Practice – Home Office

‘A 4-week consultation has been launched on the Codes of Practice that will help law enforcement officers confiscate valuable items and other assets acquired using the proceeds of crime as well as tackle the financing of terrorism.’

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Home Office, 31st July 2017

Source: www.gov.uk

White collar crime prosecutions fall as offences rise – OUT-LAW.com

‘The number of white collar crime prosecutions in the UK fell by 12% between 2015 and 2016, despite a 4% increase in the number of reported offences.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 28th July 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Clearer rules needed in the UK to support customer authentication by video, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

‘New rules are needed in the UK to make it clearer that it is acceptable for banks to verify the identity of new customers using video technology.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 4th July 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Passed on Thursday, in force today – new AML regulations thrust on profession – Legal Futures

‘Law firm compliance officers and money laundering reporting officers have been scrambling to get to grips with the biggest shake-up in anti-money laundering (AML) rules in a decade, with the final regulations – which were only published on Thursday – coming into force today.’

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Legal Futures, 26th June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“Massive memory test” preventing Bar students from understanding ethical values – Legal Futures

‘Bar students are struggling to understand ethical values because of the “massive memory test” awaiting them in the examination room, a senior lecturer has claimed.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd June 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BSB publishes consultation on new declaration rules for barristers – Bar Standards Board

Posted June 14th, 2017 in barristers, money laundering, news, press releases, remuneration, standards by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published a consultation on a new set of proposals to require barristers to declare a range of information about their practice to the regulator every year when applying for their practising certificate. This also includes new and returning barristers.’

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Bar Standards Board, 2th June 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Rise in anti money laundering inquiries poses challenge for banks, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

‘Requests from foreign authorities for the UK’s assistance in anti money laundering (AML) investigations rose last year to record levels.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th June 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

Criminal Finances Bill receives Royal Assent – Home Office

‘The Criminal Finances Act 2017 will give law enforcement agencies and partners, further capabilities and powers to recover the proceeds of crime, tackle money laundering, tax evasion and corruption, and combat the financing of terrorism.’

Full press release

Home Office, 27th April 2017

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

SRA attacks “disproportionate and unnecessary” money laundering regulations – Legal Futures

‘New anti-money laundering (AML) regulations planned by the Treasury would impose “disproportionate and unnecessary” burdens on law firms, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 20th April 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Tribunal lays out Clyde & Co’s “glaring” failures – Legal Futures

‘The failures which led to a record fine for Clyde & Co were “particularly glaring” as it was “a large and, previously, reputable firm”, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has declared in approving the sanction.’

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Legal Futures, 19th April 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Call for fundraising pages to be regulated amid fraud concerns – The Guardian

Posted April 18th, 2017 in charities, fraud, internet, money laundering, news by sally

‘It has become a familiar moment in the aftermath of any catastrophe – the appearance of a slew of online fundraising pages designed to funnel donations for the traumatised, injured and bereaved.’

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The Guardian, 17th April 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

What are the six types of cybercriminals identified by BAE? – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 4th, 2017 in computer crime, crime, fraud, money laundering, news by sally

‘Defence group BAE Systems faces “serious and persistent” cyber attacks twice a week from hackers trying to steal the defence giant’s secrets. Here are the six types of cybercriminals identified by BAE.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th April 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

New watchdog to oversee profession’s anti-money laundering regime – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 17th, 2017 in money laundering, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The Treasury is to open a new front in the fight against money laundering by creating a watchdog that will tackle potential weaknesses in the supervision of lawyers and other professionals.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 17th March 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law firm insurer fails in High Court bid to recover property fraud losses from solicitor – Legal Futures

Posted February 17th, 2017 in fraud, insurance, money laundering, news, solicitors by sally

‘A highly experienced solicitor who breached the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 in a property transaction that led to a £500,000 fraud did not act dishonestly, the High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 17th February 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

HBOS manager and other City financiers jailed over £245m loans scam – The Guardian

‘A group of bankers who ran an “utterly corrupt scheme” that left hundreds of small business owners “cheated, defeated and penniless” have been sentenced to almost 50 years in jail.’

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The Guardian, 2nd February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Former HBOS manager found guilty of corruption and fraud – BBC News

Posted January 31st, 2017 in banking, corruption, fraud, money laundering, news by sally

‘Six people, including two former HBOS bankers, have been found guilty of bribery and fraud that cost the bank’s business customers and shareholders hundreds of millions of pounds.’

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BBC News, 30th January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New crackdown on corporate economic crime – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 17th, 2017 in consultations, false accounting, fraud, money laundering, press releases by tracey

‘New laws will be considered as part of a crackdown on corporate economic crime, ministers announced today.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 13th January 2017

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Lawyers divided on new white-collar crime offences – Law Society’s Gazette

‘US-style ‘vicarious liability’ and new ‘failure to prevent’ offences are under consideration in long-awaited government proposals to reform the law on corporate criminal liability published today. Initial reaction from corporate crime specialists was divided, with some lawyers seeing the proposals as a climb-down while others described them as a new burden on business.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 13th January 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bookmakers face losing their licence and huge fines over problem gambling The Guardian

Posted January 16th, 2017 in fines, gambling, licensing, money laundering, news, regulations, sanctions by sally

‘Gambling firms that fail to tackle problem gambling and money laundering face heftier fines and a higher risk of losing their operating licence under a tougher regime to be unveiled by the industry’s regulator.’

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The Guardian, 15th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk