Commentary on Sections Part 5: Civil Recovery of the Proceeds etc. of Unlawful Conduct Vesting and realisation of recoverable property Section 267: Functions of the trustee for civil recovery
352.Where it makes a recovery order, or a consent order under section 276, the court must appoint a trustee for civil recovery. The enforcement authority is required by subsection (2) to nominate someone suitably qualified, and may do so from its own staff (this is because unlike the interim receiver or interim administrator the trustee acts in the interests of the enforcement authority following the court’s judgment in favour of that authority and has no investigative functions). Subsection (3) places the trustee under a duty to secure the property which will be vested in him, and to liquidate non-cash assets for the benefit of the enforcement authority. Subsection (4) states that the trustee acts as such on behalf of the enforcement authority and on its instructions. Subsection (5) places the trustee under a duty to maximise the amount realisable from the property vested in him. These provisions together make clear that the trustee must approach his functions with a view to giving the fullest effect to the enforcement of the authority's right of recovery.