Part 1: Proceeds of crime Assault and obstruction offences Section 24: External requests, orders and investigations
Section 24 amends sections 444 and 445 of POCA, which give the Secretary of State the power to make provisions (by way of Orders in Council) in respect of orders made by an overseas court. Section 444 applies to "external orders", which is defined in section 447 to mean orders by an overseas court for freezing or recovery of property obtained as a result of criminal conduct. Section 445 applies to "external investigations" which are defined in section 447 of POCA as investigations into whether property has been obtained through unlawful conduct, and the extent or whereabouts of any property so obtained. The principal Orders made under those sections are the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Requests and Orders) Order 2005 (SI 2005 No. 3181 as amended), The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Investigations) Order 2013 (SI 2013 No. 2605 as amended) and The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Investigations) Order 2014 (SI 2014 No. 1893 as amended). Section 444 relates to external (overseas) requests and orders – for example the freezing of property in the United Kingdom which may be needed to satisfy overseas orders – and section 445 makes provision for investigative powers to be made available in respect of overseas investigations.