Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 – Costs protection report

Statement

Today, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (“POCA”) costs protection report covering England and Wales, has been laid before Parliament. The report is a statutory requirement under section 215 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. The government is required to review whether costs protection should be introduced for enforcement agencies in civil recovery proceedings under Part 5 of POCA and publish a report by the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which the Act was passed.

I am pleased that we are now able to publish the report. The report outlines the engagement exercise that took place to seek consultees views and the options considered for introducing potential changes. The report concludes that the government sees merit in introducing costs protection based on the consultation responses and is making progress to determine whether amendments to legislation should be made.

Copies of the report will be available in the Vote Office, and it will also be published on GOV.UK.