Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 12 September 2023 to Question 197789 on Unexplained Wealth Orders, how many new applications for unexplained wealth orders were made in the High Court from 13 September 2023 to 13 March 2024.

Since being introduced in April 2017, UWOs have been applied for by operational agencies in six investigations, with five granted and the NCA waiting for a Judges decision on the other. There were no applications made by the NCA for a UWO between 13 September 2023 to 13 March 2024.

UWOs remain a powerful tool to investigate those who look to use, move or hide their proceeds of crime in the UK or overseas. There are a number of variables which impact an operational decision to seek a UWO including: the ease with which evidence can be obtained from overseas; whether it would be proportionate to go to the High Court; and suitability of alternative investigatory powers.

Agencies have several other well-established powers under Part 8 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 which they may use to compel information regarding the ownership of asset during an investigation such as Production Orders and Disclosure Orders. Law enforcement agencies are operationally independent from Government and cannot be tasked to use UWOs.

The Government committed to report on the number of UWOs applied for and obtained each year under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2022 and will lay this year’s report before September.

The report covering 2022-23 can be found at: Unexplained wealth orders: 2022 to 2023 annual report - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)