Asked by: Lord James of Blackheath (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to criminalise the withholding of knowledge relating to the presence or movement of funds for terrorist use made available through the co-operation of British business.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Under Section 19, Part 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000, it is already a criminal offence to fail to disclose, without reasonable excuse, information which relates to a terrorist finance offence.
The Criminal Finance Bill will provide new measures to assist where incomplete information is provided and where a criminal prosecution would be disproportionate. The Bill will enable law enforcement officers to first issue a notice and then seek a Court order to compel any member of the regulated sector to provide further information in relation to a Suspicious Activity Report that has been made under the Terrorism Act 2000. Failure to comply with the order carries a fine of up to £5000.
The Bill will also make disclosure orders available for terrorist finance investigations, enabling a judge to make an order directing someone to answer questions, provide information or produce documents in relation to a terrorist financing investigation. Making a false statement or failing to comply, without reasonable excuse, will be a criminal offence.