Part 1: Proceeds of crime Seized money: England and Wales and Northern Ireland Section 26: Seized money: England and Wales
Section 26 amends section 67 of POCA. Section 67 of POCA provides the magistrates’ court with a power to enforce a confiscation order. In particular, it relates to a defendant’s money seized by the police or HMRC under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 that has to be paid into a bank or building society account. The court can order that money be paid to the court in satisfaction of a confiscation order. This section amends the existing scheme provided in section 67 in three ways. Firstly, it is extended beyond police and HMRC officers to all law enforcement officers who have the power to seize money. Secondly, section 67 now applies to money that has been seized under any power relating to a criminal investigation or proceeding (not just the Police and Criminal Evidence Act), or under the investigatory powers in POCA. Thirdly, this section amends section 67 so that it applies to money however it is held by law enforcement, and not just in a bank or building society account.
	There is also a technical amendment to provide a definition of "bank" following the repeal of the provision in the Banking Act 1987 that previously provided the definition.