Commentary on Sections Part 8: Investigations Chapter 2: England and Wales and Northern Ireland Section 343: Judges
505.Section 343 specifies the judges to which applications for orders are to be made. In England and Wales, applications in respect of confiscation and money laundering investigations must be made to a judge entitled to exercise the jurisdiction of the Crown Court. This will allow Circuit judges, Recorders and High Court judges in their Crown Court capacity to hear applications for orders in respect of confiscation and money laundering investigations. In Northern Ireland, a Crown Court judge will hear such applications. In both jurisdictions, applications in respect of civil recovery investigations must be made to a High Court judge.