Other Notices
Department of Justice
THE PROCEEDS OF CRIME ACT 2002 (SEARCH, RECOVERY OF CRYPTOASSETS AND INVESTIGATIONS: CODES OF PRACTICE) ORDER (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2024
The Department of Justice has made a Statutory Rule entitled "The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Recovery of Cryptoassets and Investigations: Codes of Practice) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024" (S.R. 2024 No. 139), which comes into operation on 17 July 2024.
The Rule was subject to the draft affirmative resolution procedure. The Northern Ireland Assembly approved the Rule on 25 June 2024. This Rule brings into operation on 17 July 2024 two revised codes of practice and one new code of practice made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (2002 c. 29) ("the 2002 Act") and revokes two Statutory Rules made in 2021. The revised codes and new code are required because of amendments made to the 2002 Act by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (2023 c.56) concerning cryptoassets.
The revised code of practice entitled "Code of Practice issued under section 195T of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002: Search, Seizure and Detention of Property (Northern Ireland)" replaces the code of the same name issued on 28 June 2021. The 2021 version of the code was brought into operation by Statutory Rule "The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Seizure and Detention of Property: Code of Practice) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021" (S.R. 2021 No. 168). S.R. 2021 No. 168 is revoked.
The revised code of practice entitled "Code of Practice issued under section 377ZA of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002: Investigations (Northern Ireland)" replaces the code of the same name issued on 28 June 2021. The 2021 version of the code was brought into operation by the Statutory Rule "The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations: Code of Practice) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021" (S.R. 2021 No. 170). S.R. 2021 No. 170 is revoked.
A new code of practice entitled "Code of Practice issued under section 303Z25 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002: Recovery of Cryptoassets and Related Items – Search Powers (Northern Ireland)" is brought into operation on 17 July 2024. This new code of practice provides guidance on the powers to search and recover cryptoassets or cryptoasset-related items.
The revised and new codes of practice are available to download on the Department of Justice website:
Copies of the Rule may be purchased from the Stationery Office at www.tsoshop.co.uk or by contacting TSO Customer Services on +44 (0)333 202 5070 or viewed online at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2024/139/made.