Territorial Extent Commentary on Sections Confiscation: other amendments Section 10: Default sentences
58.This section gives effect to the commitment in the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy to strengthen POCA by “substantially strengthening the prison sentences for failing to pay confiscation orders so as to prevent offenders choosing to serve prison sentences rather than pay confiscation orders”.
59.Subsection (1) amends section 35 of POCA, which enables the Crown Court to set a default sentence for the defendant to serve if he or she fails to pay the amount due under the confiscation order. Section 35 of POCA achieves this outcome by treating an unpaid confiscation order as if it were an unpaid fine thereby attracting the fine enforcement provisions in the 2000 Act and Part 3 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980. The 2000 Act makes provision for the court to fix a term of imprisonment (or detention where the defendant is under 18) for an individual if any sum for which he or she is liable to pay as a fine is not duly paid (a “default sentence”). The maximum default term applicable to a particular confiscation order is determined by a sliding scale based on the amount of the outstanding sum payable, varying from seven days’ imprisonment for an amount not exceeding £200 to ten years’ imprisonment for an amount exceeding £1 million (as set out in section 139(4) of the 2000 Act). Unlike a fine, serving a default sentence for failure to pay a confiscation order does not relieve the defendant of the obligation to pay the full amount due under the order, plus any interest that has accrued on that amount.
60.Subsection (1) amends section 35 of POCA so as to disapply section 139(4) of the 2000 Act insofar as it relates to confiscation orders and to insert a new subsection (2A) containing a bespoke sliding scale of default sentences applicable to such orders. In providing for a new sliding scale of default sentences, new section 35(2A) makes two substantive changes to the sliding scale provided for in section 139(4) of the 2000 Act.
61.The first change is to simplify the sliding scale, replacing the existing 12 tiers as provided for in section 139(4) of the 2000 Act with four tiers.
62.The second change is to increase the maximum period of imprisonment for defaulting on a confiscation order for an amount exceeding £500,000 but not more than £1 million from five to seven years and for an amount exceeding £1 million from ten to 14 years.
63.New section 35(2C) confers power on the Secretary of State, by order, to amend the table in new section 35(2A) so as to provide for both minimum and maximum terms of imprisonment, to vary any minimum sentences so introduced, to vary the maximum sentences and to modify the tiers, for example by introducing additional tiers. As a result of the amendments made to section 459 of POCA by subsection (2) this order-making power is subject to the affirmative procedure.
64.Subsection (3) inserts new subsections (2B) and (2C) into section 258 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which governs the release of persons serving a default sentence under POCA. By virtue of section 258(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 persons serving a default sentence are automatically eligible for release at the half way point of the default sentence. New subsection (2B) of section 258 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 disapplies subsection (2) of that section where the default sentence relates to the non-payment of a confiscation order of more than £10 million. In such cases, therefore, the person would be required to serve the full default sentence until such time as the confiscation order is discharged on full payment. New subsection (2C) of section 258 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 confers a power to vary the £10 million figure by order. As a result of the amendments made to section 330 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 by subsection (4), this order-making power is subject to the affirmative procedure.
65.As a result of the changes made by this section, the maximum custodial period that may be served by an offender who defaults on payment of a confiscation order over £10 million will increase from five years (that is, half of the current maximum 10 year sentence) to 14 years.