The Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023
- (h) the direct or indirect provision of funds from a non-UK country, where arrangement A, or any other arrangement in connection with which arrangement A is entered into, is an arrangement mentioned in regulation 42(3).
- (2) Paragraph (1) is subject to Part 8 (Exceptions and licences).
- (3) A person who contravenes a prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence, but it is a defence for a person charged with that offence to show that the person did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the brokering services were provided in relation to an arrangement mentioned in that paragraph.
- (4) In this regulation—
- “non-UK country” means a country that is not the United Kingdom;
- “third country” means—for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) and (b), a country that is not the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or Iran, andfor the purposes of any other provision of paragraph (1), a country that is not the United Kingdom or Iran.
CHAPTER 5 — Further provision
Circumventing etc. prohibitions
44
- (1) A person must not intentionally participate in activities knowing that the object or effect of them is, whether directly or indirectly—
- (a) to circumvent any of the prohibitions in Chapter 2, 3 or 4 of this Part, or
- (b) to enable or facilitate the contravention of any such prohibition.
- (2) A person who contravenes a prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence.
Defences
45
- (1) Paragraph (2) applies where a person relies on a defence under Chapter 2, 3 or 4 of this Part.
- (2) If evidence is adduced which is sufficient to raise an issue with respect to the defence, the court must assume that the defence is satisfied unless the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that it is not.
PART 7 — Ships
Prohibition on port entry
46
- (1) A person must not provide a ship to which this paragraph applies with access to a port in the United Kingdom, if the person knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that the ship is a ship to which this paragraph applies.
- (2) The master or pilot of a ship to which this paragraph applies must not cause or permit the ship to enter a port in the United Kingdom if the master or pilot knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that the ship is a ship to which this paragraph applies.
- (3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) are subject to Part 8 (Exceptions and licences) (see, in particular, regulation 57 (ships: exceptions from prohibitions on port entry)).
- (4) A person who contravenes a prohibition in paragraph (1) or (2) commits an offence.
- (5) Paragraphs (1) and (2) apply to—
- (a) a ship owned, controlled, chartered or operated by a designated person, or
- (b) a specified ship.
- (6) In paragraph (5), a “designated person” means a person who is designated under regulation 5 for the purposes of the relevant regulations of this Part.
Directions prohibiting port entry
47
- (1) A port barring direction may be given to the master or pilot of a specified ship.
- (2) A port barring direction may be given by—
- (a) the Secretary of State, or
- (b) a harbour authority.
- (3) The Secretary of State may direct a harbour authority to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that a ship mentioned in a port barring direction does not enter a port or ports in the United Kingdom specified in the direction, or any port in the United Kingdom.
- (4) It is an offence for a person to whom a direction is given under this regulation to fail to comply with the direction.
- (5) The Secretary of State may notify a person that the existence of a port barring direction, any part of the content of the direction, or anything done under the direction, is to be treated as confidential.
- (6) It is an offence for a person to disclose information if the Secretary of State has notified that person under paragraph (5) that the information is to be treated as confidential.
- (7) In this regulation, a “port barring direction” means a direction prohibiting a ship from entering a port or ports in the United Kingdom specified in the direction, or any port in the United Kingdom.
Movement of ships
48
- (1) A port entry direction or a movement direction may be given by the Secretary of State to the master or pilot of—
- (a) a ship owned, controlled, chartered or operated by a designated person, or
- (b) a specified ship.
- (2) The Secretary of State may direct a harbour authority to take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that a ship mentioned in paragraph (1)—
- (a) proceeds to or enters a port specified in the direction,
- (b) leaves a port specified in the direction,
- (c) proceeds to a place specified in the direction, or
- (d) remains where it is.
- (3) It is an offence for a person to whom a direction is given under this regulation to fail to comply with the direction.
- (4) The Secretary of State may notify a person that the existence of a port entry direction or a movement direction, any part of the content of the direction, or anything done under the direction, is to be treated as confidential.
- (5) It is an offence for a person to disclose information if the Secretary of State has notified that person under paragraph (4) that the information is to be treated as confidential.
- (6) In this regulation—
- a “designated person” means a person who is designated under regulation 5 for the purposes of the relevant regulations of this Part;
- a “movement direction” means a direction requiring a ship— to leave a port specified in the direction, to proceed to a place specified in the direction, or to remain where it is; a “port entry direction” means a direction requiring a ship to proceed to or enter a port specified in the direction.
Detention of ships
49
- (1) A detention direction may be given to the master of a ship referred to in paragraph (3) by—
- (a) the Secretary of State, or
- (b) a harbour authority.
- (2) A detention direction under paragraph (1)(b) may only be given by a harbour authority to the master of a specified ship if it has received a direction from the Secretary of State in accordance with paragraph (3)(b).
- (3) The Secretary of State may direct a harbour authority to give a detention direction to the master of—
- (a) a ship owned, controlled, chartered or operated by a designated person, or
- (b) a specified ship.
- (4) A “detention direction” means a direction requiring the detention of a ship at a port or anchorage in the United Kingdom.
- (5) A detention direction given in relation to a ship—
- (a) must be in writing,
- (b) must be delivered to the master of the ship by the person who detains the ship,
- (c) must state the grounds on which the ship is detained, and
- (d) must state that—
- (i) it is given under this regulation, and
- (ii) any requirements imposed by the direction must be complied with.
- (6) Paragraph (7) applies if—
- (a) the ship is not a British ship, and
- (b) there is in the United Kingdom a consular officer for the country to which the ship belongs.
- (7) A copy of the detention direction must be sent as soon as practicable to the nearest consular officer for the country to which the ship belongs.
- (8) Section 284(1), (2), (2A), (2B), (3) and (8) of the Merchant Shipping Act 19959 (enforcing detention of ship) applies in the case of detention under a detention direction as it applies in the case of detention authorised or ordered by that Act, but as if—
- (a) any reference in that section to a notice of detention were to the detention direction, and
- (b) the reference in subsection (2A) of that section to a direction given under subsection (1A)(a)10 of that section were to any requirement imposed by the detention direction.
- (9) In this regulation, “consular officer”, in relation to a foreign country, means the officer recognised by His Majesty as a consular officer of that foreign country.
- (10) In this regulation a “designated person” means a person who is designated under regulation 5 for the purposes of the relevant regulations of this Part.
Registration of ships in the United Kingdom
50
- (1) The Registrar must refuse to register a ship if, on the basis of the information given to the Registrar by the Secretary of State or accompanying the application for registration, the ship appears to the Registrar to be owned, controlled, chartered or operated by a designated person.
- (2) The Secretary of State may direct the Registrar to terminate the registration of—
- (a) a ship that is owned, controlled, chartered or operated by a designated persons or
- (b) a specified ship.
- (3) For the purposes of this regulation—
- (a) any reference to registering a ship is to registering the ship in the register of British ships maintained by the Registrar; and
- (b) a “designated person” means a person who is designated under regulation 5 for the purposes of the relevant regulations of this Part.
Specification of ships
51
- (1) The Secretary of State may specify ships within the meaning of section 7 of the Act for the purposes of—
- (a) regulation 46 (prohibition on port entry),
- (b) regulation 47 (directions prohibiting port entry),
- (c) regulation 48 (movement of ships),
- (d) regulation 49 (detention of ships), and
- (e) regulation 50 (registration of ships in the United Kingdom).
- (2) The Secretary of State must specify a ship by its International Maritime Organization number or, where it is not reasonably practicable to identify it by that number, by any other means that the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
- (3) The Secretary of State may not specify a ship unless the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to suspect that the ship is, has been, or is likely to be, involved in a relevant activity.
- (4) For the purposes of this regulation a ship is “involved in a relevant activity” if the ship is used for any activity whose object or effect is to contravene or circumvent, or to enable or facilitate the contravention or circumvention of, any provision of these Regulations.
Notification and publicity where specification power used
52
- (1) Paragraph (2) applies where the Secretary of State—
- (a) has specified a ship under regulation 51(1)(specification of ships), or
- (b) has by virtue of section 26 of the Act revoked a specification made under that regulation.
- (2) The Secretary of State—
- (a) must without delay take such steps as are reasonably practicable to inform such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate of the specification or revocation, and
- (b) except where one or more of the restricted publicity conditions is met, must take steps to publicise the specification or revocation generally.
- (3) The “restricted publicity conditions” are that the Secretary of State considers that disclosure of the specification or revocation should be restricted—
- (a) in the interests of national security or international relations,
- (b) for reasons connected with the prevention or detection of serious crime in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, or
- (c) in the interests of justice.
- (4) Paragraph (5) applies if—
- (a) when a specification is made one or more of the restricted publicity conditions is met, but
- (b) at any time when the specification has effect, it becomes the case that none of the restricted publicity conditions is met.
- (5) The Secretary of State must take steps to publicise the specification generally.
Directions under this Part: general
53
- (1) Paragraphs (2) to (4) apply in relation to a direction given under this Part.
- (2) A person to whom a direction is given has a duty to comply with it.
- (3) A direction may be of indefinite duration or a defined duration.
- (4) A person who gives a direction may vary, revoke or suspend it at any time.
- (5) A direction under regulation 48(2) (movement of ships) may be given to any harbour authority or to harbour authorities generally.
Interpretation of Part 7
54
- (1) For the purposes of this Part, a ship is—
- (a) “owned” by a person if—
- (i) the legal title to the ship, or to any share in the ship, is vested in that person, or in a person who is owned or controlled directly or indirectly (within the meaning of regulation 9) by that person, or
- (ii) the person, or a person who is owned or controlled directly or indirectly (within the meaning of regulation 9) by that person, has a beneficial interest in the ship or in any share in the ship;
- (b) “chartered” by a person if it is chartered on bareboat charter terms within the meaning given by section 17(11) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995; and
- (c) “controlled” by a person who is able to take decisions about its operation, including (but not limited to) decisions about the route the ship may take and the appointment of master or crew.
- (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), a ship is not “controlled” by its master or crew, unless that master or crew are designated persons under the relevant regulations of this Part.
- (3) For the purposes of this Part, a ship is not “operated” by its master or crew unless that master or crew are designated persons under the relevant regulations of this Part.
- (4) Any reference in this Part to a legal title or other interest includes one held jointly with any other person or persons.
- (5) For the purposes of this Part—
- “beneficial interest” means any beneficial interest, however, arising (whether held by trustee or nominee or arising under a contract or otherwise), other than an interest held by any person as mortgagee;
- “specified ship” means a ship specified by the Secretary of State under regulation 51 (specification of ships);
- “the relevant regulations of this Part” means regulations 46, 48, 49, and 50.
- (6) Any expression used in this Part and in section 7 of the Act (shipping sanctions) has the same meaning in this Part as it has in that section.
PART 8 — Exceptions and licences
Finance: exceptions from prohibitions
55
- (1) The prohibition in regulation 15 (asset-freeze in relation to designated persons) is not contravened by an independent person (“P”) transferring to another person a legal or equitable interest in funds or economic resources where, immediately before the transfer, the interest—
- (a) is held by P, and
- (b) is not held jointly with the designated person.
- (2) In paragraph (1) “independent person” means a person who—
- (a) is not the designated person, and
- (b) is not owned or controlled directly or indirectly (within the meaning of regulation 9) by the designated person.
- (3) The prohibitions in regulations 15 to 17 (asset-freeze in relation to, and making funds available to, or for the benefit of, designated persons) are not contravened by a relevant institution crediting a frozen account with interest or other earnings due on the account.
- (4) The prohibitions in regulations 16 and 17 (making funds available to, or for the benefit of, designated persons) are not contravened by a relevant institution crediting a frozen account where it receives funds transferred to that institution for crediting to that account.
- (5) The prohibitions in regulations 16 and 17 are not contravened by the transfer of funds to a relevant institution for crediting to an account held or controlled (directly or indirectly) by a designated person, where those funds are transferred in discharge (or partial discharge) of an obligation which arose before the date on which the person became a designated person.
- (6) The prohibitions in regulations 15 to 17 are not contravened in relation to a designated person (“P”) by a transfer of funds from account A to account B, where—
- (a) account A is with a relevant institution which carries on an excluded activity within the meaning of section 142D of the Financial Services and Markets Act 200011,
- (b) account B is with a ring-fenced body within the meaning of section 142A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 200012, and
- (c) accounts A and B are held or controlled (directly or indirectly) by P.
- (7) In this regulation—
- “designated person” has the same meaning as it has in Part 3 (Finance);
- “frozen account” means an account with a relevant institution which is held or controlled (directly or indirectly) by a designated person;
- “relevant institution” means a person that has permission under Part 4A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 200013 (permission to carry on regulated activity).
- (8) The definition of “relevant institution” in paragraph (7) is to be read with section 22 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 200014, any relevant order under that section15 and Schedule 2 to that Act16.
- (9) For the purposes of paragraphs (1)(b), (5) and (6) and the definition of “frozen account” in paragraph (7), references to a designated person are to be read as including a person who is owned or controlled directly or indirectly (within the meaning of regulation 9) by the designated person.
- (10) When determining for the purposes of paragraph (5) when a person (“C”) who is owned or controlled directly or indirectly (within the meaning of regulation 9) by the designated person (“D”) became a designated person, C is to be treated as having become a designated person at the same time as D.
Trade: exception for emergencies in certain cases
56
- (1) The prohibitions specified in paragraph (2) are not contravened by any act done by a person (“P”), where P provides justification to the Secretary of State within the relevant period that the act is an act dealing with an emergency.
- (2) Paragraph (1) applies to the prohibitions in regulations 28 to 34 (prohibitions relating to restricted goods etc.) and regulations 37 to 43 (prohibitions relating to goods of strategic concern etc.).
- (3) In this regulation—
- “an act dealing with an emergency” means an act assisting with the urgent prevention or mitigation of an event likely to have a serious and significant impact on human health or safety, infrastructure or the environment;
- “relevant period”, in relation to an act, means the period of 5 working days beginning with the day on which the act is done.
Ships: exceptions from prohibition on port entry
57
- (1) The prohibition in regulation 46(1) (prohibition on port entry) is not contravened by providing a ship with access to a port if—
- (a) a port entry direction has been given in relation to the ship under regulation 48 (movement of ships), or
- (b) the access is needed by the ship in a case of emergency.
- (2) The prohibition in regulation 46(2) is not contravened by the entry into port of a ship if—
- (a) a port entry direction has been given in relation to the ship under regulation 47, or
- (b) the entry is needed by the ship in a case of emergency.
Exception for authorised conduct in a relevant country
58
- (1) Where a person’s conduct in a relevant country would, in the absence of this regulation, contravene a prohibition in any of regulations 15 to 19 (asset-freeze etc.) or Chapter 2, 3 or 4 of Part 6 (Trade) (“the relevant prohibition”), the relevant prohibition is not contravened if the conduct is authorised by a licence or other authorisation which is issued—
- (a) under the law of the relevant country, and
- (b) for the purpose of disapplying a prohibition in that jurisdiction which corresponds to the relevant prohibition.
- (2) In this regulation—
- “relevant country” means—any of the Channel Islands,the Isle of Man, orany British overseas territory.
Exception for acts done for purposes of national security or prevention of serious crime
59
- (1) Where an act would, in the absence of this paragraph, be prohibited by the prohibition in regulation 11(2) or 13(2) (confidentiality) or any prohibition in Part 3 (Finance) or 6 (Trade), or under or by virtue of Part 7 (Ships), that prohibition does not apply to the act if the act is one which a responsible officer has determined would be in the interests of—
- (a) national security, or
- (b) the prevention or detection of serious crime in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.
- (2) Where, in the absence of this paragraph, a thing would be required to be done under or by virtue of a provision of Part 9 (Information and records) or Part 11 (Maritime enforcement), that requirement does not apply if a responsible officer has determined that not doing the thing in question would be in the interests of—
- (a) national security, or
- (b) the prevention or detection of serious crime in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.
- (3) In this regulation “responsible officer” means a person in the service of the Crown or holding office under the Crown, acting in the course of that person’s duty.
Treasury licences
60
- (1) The prohibitions in regulations 15 to 19 (asset-freeze etc.) do not apply to anything done under the authority of a licence issued by the Treasury under this paragraph.
- (2) The Treasury may issue a licence which authorises acts by a particular person only where the Treasury consider that it is appropriate to issue the licence for a purpose set out in Schedule 5.
Director disqualification licences
61
The Secretary of State may issue a licence in relation to any person who is designated under regulation 5 for the purposes of regulation 21 (director disqualification sanctions) providing that the prohibitions in—
- (a) section 11A of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, and
- (b) Article 15A of the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002,
do not apply to anything done under the authority of that licence.
Trade licences
62
The prohibitions in Chapters 2, 3 and 4 of Part 6 (Trade) do not apply to anything done under the authority of a licence issued by the Secretary of State under this regulation.
Licences: general provisions
63
- (1) This regulation applies in relation to Treasury licences, director disqualification licences, and trade licences.
- (2) A licence must specify the acts authorised by it.
- (3) A licence may be general or may authorise acts by a particular person or persons of a particular description.
- (4) A licence may—
- (a) contain conditions;
- (b) be of indefinite duration or a defined duration.
- (5) A person who issues a licence may vary, revoke or suspend it at any time.
- (6) A person who , on the application of a person (“P”), issues a licence which authorises acts by a particular person , or varies, revokes or suspends that licence, must give written notice to P of the issue, variation, revocation or suspension of the licence.
- (7) A person who issues, varies, revokes or suspends a general licence or a licence which authorises acts by persons of a particular description must take such steps as that person considers appropriate to publicise the issue, variation, revocation or suspension of the licence.
Finance: licensing offences
64
- (1) A person (“P”) commits an offence if P knowingly or recklessly—
- (a) provides information that is false in a material respect, or
- (b) provides or produces a document that is not what it purports to be,
for the purpose of obtaining a Treasury licence (whether for P or anyone else).
- (2) A person who purports to act under the authority of a Treasury licence but who fails to comply with any condition of the licence commits an offence.
Director disqualification: licensing offences
65
- (1) A person (“P”) commits an offence if P knowingly or recklessly—
- (a) provides information that is false in a material respect, or
- (b) provides or produces a document that is not what it purports to be,
for the purpose of obtaining a director disqualification licence (whether for P or anyone else).
- (2) A person who purports to act under the authority of a director disqualification licence but who fails to comply with any condition of the licence commits an offence.
- (3) A licence in respect of which an offence under paragraph (1) has been committed is to be treated as void from the time at which it was issued.
Trade: licensing offences
66
- (1) A person (“P”) commits an offence if P knowingly or recklessly—
- (a) provides information that is false in a material respect, or
- (b) provides or produces a document that is not what it purports to be,
for the purpose of obtaining a trade licence (whether for P or anyone else).
- (2) A person who purports to act under the authority of a trade licence but who fails to comply with any condition of the licence commits an offence.
- (3) A licence in respect of which an offence under paragraph (1) has been committed is to be treated as void from the time at which it was issued.
Section 8B(1) to (3) of Immigration Act 1971: directions
67
- (1) The Secretary of State may direct that, in relation to any person within regulation 22 whose name is specified, or who is of a specified description, section 8B(1) and (2) of the Immigration Act 1971, or section 8B(3) of that Act, have effect subject to specified exceptions.
- (2) A direction under this regulation may contain conditions.
- (3) A direction under this regulation must be of a defined duration (and that duration may be expressed in any way, including, for example, being expressed in a way such that the direction ceases to have effect on, or within a specified period after, the occurrence of a specified event).
- (4) The Secretary of State may vary, revoke or suspend a direction under this regulation at any time.
- (5) On the issue, variation, revocation or suspension of a direction under this regulation, the Secretary of State may take such steps as the Secretary of State considers appropriate to publicise the issue, variation, revocation or suspension of the direction.
- (6) In this regulation “specified” means specified in a direction under this regulation.
PART 9 — Information and records
Finance: reporting obligations
68
- (1) A relevant firm must inform the Treasury as soon as practicable if—
- (a) it knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a person—
- (i) is a designated person, or
- (ii) has breached a prohibition or failed to comply with an obligation under any provision of Part 3 (Finance) or regulation 64 (finance: licensing offences), and
- (b) the information or other matter on which the knowledge or cause for suspicion is based came to it in the course of carrying on its business.
- (2) Where a relevant firm informs the Treasury under paragraph (1), it must state—
- (a) the information or other matter on which the knowledge or suspicion is based, and
- (b) any information it holds about the person by which the person can be identified.
- (3) Paragraph (4) applies if—
- (a) a relevant firm informs the Treasury under paragraph (1) that it knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a person is a designated person, and
- (b) that person is a customer of the relevant firm.
- (4) The relevant firm must also state the nature and amount or quantity of any funds or economic resources held by it for the customer at the time when it first had the knowledge or suspicion.
- (4A) Where a person (“P”) knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that P holds funds or economic resources owned, held or controlled by a designated person, P must by no later than 30th November in each calendar year provide a report to the Treasury as to the nature and amount or quantity of those funds or economic resources held by P as of 30th September in that calendar year.
- (4B) Where a report has been provided further to paragraph (4A) but as of 30th September in the following calendar year P no longer holds funds or economic resources owned, held or controlled by the designated person, P must by no later than 30th November in that calendar year report this to the Treasury.
- (4C) For the purposes of paragraphs (4A) and (4B), funds or economic resources are to be treated as owned, held or controlled by a designated person if they are owned, held or controlled by a person who is owned or controlled directly or indirectly (within the meaning of regulation 9) by the designated person.
- (5) A relevant institution must inform the Treasury without delay if that institution—
- (a) credits a frozen account in accordance with regulation 55(4) (finance: exceptions from prohibitions), or
- (b) transfers funds from a frozen account in accordance with regulation 55(6).
- (6) A person who fails to comply with a requirement in paragraph (1), (2) or (4) commits an offence.
- (6A) A person commits an offence if that person, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a requirement in paragraph (4A) or (4B).
- (7) In this regulation—
- “designated person” has the same meaning as it has in Part 3 (Finance);
- “frozen account” has the same meaning as it has in regulation 55;
- “relevant firm” is to be read in accordance with regulation 69;
- “relevant institution” has the same meaning as it has in regulation 55.
“Relevant firm”
69
- (1) The following are relevant firms for the purposes of regulation 68 (finance: reporting obligations)—
- (a) a person that has permission under Part 4A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (permission to carry on regulated activity);
- (b) an undertaking that by way of business—
- (i) operates a currency exchange office,
- (ii) transmits money (or any representation of monetary value) by any means, or
- (iii) cashes cheques that are made payable to customers;
- (c) a firm or sole practitioner that is—
- (i) a statutory auditor within the meaning of Part 42 of the Companies Act 2006 (statutory auditors)17, or
- (ii) a local auditor within the meaning of section 4(1) of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (general requirements for audit)18;
- (d) a firm or sole practitioner that provides to other persons, by way of business—
- (i) accountancy services,
- (ii) legal or notarial services,
- (iii) advice about tax affairs, or
- (iv) trust or company services within the meaning of paragraph (2);
- (e) a firm or sole practitioner that carries out, or whose employees carry out, estate agency work;
- (f) the holder of a casino operating licence within the meaning given by section 65(2)(a) of the Gambling Act 2005 (nature of a licence)19;
- (g) a person engaged in the business of making, supplying, selling (including selling by auction) or exchanging—
- (i) articles made from gold, silver, platinum or palladium, or
- (ii) precious stones or pearls;
- (h) a cryptoasset exchange provider;
- (i) a custodian wallet provider.
- (j) a high value dealer;
- (k) an art market participant;
- (l) an insolvency practitioner;
- (m) a firm or sole practitioner (“P”) that carries out, or whose employees carry out, letting agency work.
- (2) In paragraph (1) “trust or company services” means any of the following services—
- (a) forming companies or other legal persons;
- (b) acting, or arranging for another person to act—
- (i) as a director or secretary of a company,
- (ii) as a partner of a partnership, or
- (iii) in a similar capacity in relation to other legal persons;
- (c) providing a registered office, business address, correspondence or administrative address or other related services for a company, partnership or any other legal person or arrangement;
- (d) acting, or arranging for another person to act, as—
- (i) a trustee of an express trust or similar legal arrangement, or
- (ii) a nominee shareholder for a person.
- (3) In paragraph (1)—
- “estate agency work” is to be read in accordance with section 1 of the Estate Agents Act 197920, but as if references in that section to disposing of or acquiring an interest in land included (despite anything in section 2 of that Act) references to disposing of or acquiring an estate or interest in land outside the United Kingdom where that estate or interest is capable of being owned or held as a separate interest;
- “firm” means any entity that, whether or not a legal person, is not an individual, and includes a body corporate and a partnership or other unincorporated body.
- (4) In paragraph (1), a “cryptoasset exchange provider” means a firm or sole practitioner that by way of business provides one or more of the following services, including where the firm or sole practitioner does so as creator or issuer of any of the cryptoassets involved—
- (a) exchanging, or arranging or making arrangements with a view to the exchange of, cryptoassets for money or money for cryptoassets,
- (b) exchanging, or arranging or making arrangements with a view to the exchange of, one cryptoasset for another, or
- (c) operating a machine which utilises automated processes to exchange cryptoassets for money or money for cryptoassets.
- (5) In paragraph (1), a “custodian wallet provider” means a firm or sole practitioner that by way of business provides services to safeguard, or to safeguard and administer—
- (a) cryptoassets on behalf of its customers, or
- (b) private cryptographic keys on behalf of its customers in order to hold, store and transfer cryptoassets.
- (6) For the purposes of this regulation—
- (a) “cryptoasset” means a cryptographically secured digital representation of value or contractual rights that uses a form of distributed ledger technology and can be transferred, stored or traded electronically;
- (b) “money” means—
- (i) money in sterling,
- (ii) money in any other currency, or
- (iii) money in any other medium of exchange,
but does not include a cryptoasset; and
- (c) in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) of paragraph (4), “cryptoasset” includes a right to, or interest in, the cryptoasset.
- (6A) In paragraph (1), a “high value dealer” means a firm or sole trader that by way of business trades in goods (including an auctioneer dealing in goods), when the firm or sole trader makes or receives, in respect of any transaction, a payment or payments in cash of at least 10,000 euros in total, whether the transaction is executed in a single operation or in several operations which appear to be linked.
- (6B) In paragraph (1), an “art market participant” means, subject to paragraph (6C), a firm or sole practitioner that is registered or required to register with the Commissioners as an art market participant under regulation 56(5) and (6) of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017.
- (6C) A firm or sole practitioner is not an art market participant for the purposes of paragraph (6B) in relation to the sale or storage of a work of art which is created by, or is attributable to, a member of the firm or the sole practitioner.
- (6D) For the purposes of this regulation, “work of art” means anything which, in accordance with section 21(6) to (6B) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (value of imported goods), is a work of art for the purposes of section 21(5)(a) of that Act.
- (6E) In paragraph (1), an “insolvency practitioner” means a firm or individual who acts as an insolvency practitioner within the meaning of section 388 of the Insolvency Act 1986 or Article 3 of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.
- (6F) In paragraph (1), “letting agency work” means work—
- (a) consisting of things done in response to instructions received from—
- (i) a person (a “prospective landlord”) seeking to find another person to whom to let land for a term of a month or more, or
- (ii) a person (a “prospective tenant”) seeking to find land to rent for a term of a month or more, and
- (b) done—
- (i) in relation to a prospective landlord, from the point that the prospective landlord instructs P, or
- (ii) otherwise in the course of concluding an agreement for the letting of land for a term of a month or more.
- (6G) For the purposes of paragraph (6F)—
- “land” includes part of a building and part of any other structure.
- “letting agency work” does not include the things listed in paragraph (6H) when done by, or by employees of, a firm or sole practitioner if neither the firm or sole practitioner, nor any of their employees, does anything else within paragraph (6F).
- (6H) Those things are—
- (a) publishing advertisements or disseminating information;
- (b) providing a means by which a prospective landlord or a prospective tenant can, in response to an advertisement or dissemination of information, make direct contact with a prospective tenant or a prospective landlord;
- (c) providing a means by which a prospective landlord and a prospective tenant can communicate directly with each other;
- (d) the provision of legal or notarial services by a barrister, advocate, solicitor or other legal representative communications with whom may be the subject of a claim to professional privilege or, in Scotland, protected from disclosure in legal proceedings on grounds of confidentiality of communications.
- (7) Paragraph (1)(a) and (b) is to be read with section 22 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, any relevant order under that section and Schedule 2 to that Act.
- (8) For the purposes of regulation 68(1), information or another matter comes to a relevant firm “in the course of carrying on its business” if the information or other matter comes to the firm—
- (a) in the case of a relevant firm within paragraph (1)(a), in the course of carrying on an activity in respect of which the permission mentioned in that provision is required;
- (b) in the case of a relevant firm within paragraph (1)(c)(i), in the course of carrying out statutory audit work within the meaning of section 1210 of the Companies Act 2006 (meaning of statutory auditor)21;
- (c) in the case of a relevant firm within paragraph (1)(c)(ii), in the course of carrying out an audit required by the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014;
- (d) in the case of a relevant firm within paragraph (1)(f), in the course of carrying on an activity in respect of which the licence mentioned in that provision is required;
- (da) in the case of a relevant firm within paragraph (1)(k)—
- (i) in the course of trading, or acting as an intermediary in the sale or purchase of, works of art when the value of the transaction, or a series of linked transactions, amounts to 10,000 euros or more, or
- (ii) in the course of storing works of art where the value of the works of art so stored for a person amounts to 10,000 euros or more;
- (e) in the case of a relevant firm within any other provision of paragraph (1), in the course of carrying on an activity mentioned in that provision.
Finance: powers to request information
70
- (1) The Treasury may request a designated person to provide information about—
- (a) funds or economic resources owned, held or controlled by, or on behalf of, the designated person, or
- (b) any disposal of such funds or economic resources.
- (2) The Treasury may request a designated person to provide such information as the Treasury may reasonably require about expenditure—
- (a) by the designated person, or
- (b) for the benefit of the designated person.
- (3) For the purposes of paragraph (2), expenditure for the benefit of a designated person includes expenditure on the discharge (or partial discharge) of a financial obligation for which the designated person is wholly or partly responsible.
- (4) The power in paragraph (1) or (2) is exercisable only where the Treasury believe that it is necessary for the purpose of monitoring compliance with or detecting evasion of any provision of Part 3 (Finance).
- (5) The Treasury may request a person acting under a Treasury licence to provide information about—
- (a) funds or economic resources dealt with under the licence, or
- (b) funds or economic resources made available under the licence.
- (6) The Treasury may request a person to provide information within paragraph (7) if the Treasury believe that the person may be able to provide the information.
- (7) Information within this paragraph is such information as the Treasury may reasonably require for the purpose of—
- (a) establishing for the purposes of any provision of Part 3 (Finance)—
- (i) the nature and amount or quantity of any funds or economic resources owned, held or controlled by, or on behalf of, a designated person,
- (ii) the nature and amount or quantity of any funds or economic resources made available directly or indirectly to, or for the benefit of, a designated person, or
- (iii) the nature of any financial transactions entered into by a designated person;
- (b) monitoring compliance with or detecting evasion of—
- (i) any provision of Part 3,
- (ii) regulation 68 (finance: reporting obligations), or
- (iii) any condition of a Treasury licence;
- (c) detecting or obtaining evidence of the commission of an offence under Part 3 or regulation 64 (finance: licensing offences) or 68.
- (8) The Treasury may specify the way in which, and the period within which, information is to be provided.
- (9) If no such period is specified, the information which has been requested must be provided within a reasonable time.
- (10) A request may include a continuing obligation to keep the Treasury informed as circumstances change, or on such regular basis as the Treasury may specify.
- (11) Information requested under this regulation may relate to any period of time during which a person is, or was, a designated person.
- (12) Information requested by virtue of paragraph (1)(b), (2) or (7)(a)(iii) may relate to any period before a person became a designated person (as well as, or instead of, any subsequent period).
- (13) Expressions used in this regulation have the same meaning as they have in Part 3.
Finance: production of documents
71
- (1) A request under regulation 70 (finance: power to request information) may include a request to produce specified documents or documents of a specified description.
- (2) Where the Treasury request that documents be produced, the Treasury may—
- (a) take copies of or extracts from any document so produced,
- (b) request any person producing a document to give an explanation of it, and
- (c) where that person is a body corporate, partnership or unincorporated body other than a partnership, request any person who is—
- (i) in the case of a partnership, a present or past partner or employee of the partnership, or
- (ii) in any other case, a present or past officer or employee of the body concerned,
to give such an explanation.
- (3) Where the Treasury request a designated person or a person acting under a Treasury licence to produce documents, that person must—
- (a) take reasonable steps to obtain the documents (if they are not already in the person’s possession or control);
- (b) keep the documents under the person’s possession or control (except for the purpose of providing them to the Treasury or as the Treasury may otherwise permit).
- (4) In this regulation “designated person” has the same meaning as it has in Part 3 (Finance).
Finance: information offences
72
- (1) A person commits an offence if that person—
- (a) without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails within the time and in the manner specified (or, if no time has been specified, within a reasonable time) to comply with any request under regulation 70 (finance: powers to request information);
- (b) knowingly or recklessly gives any information, or produces any document, which is false in a material particular in response to such a request;
- (c) with intent to evade any provision of regulation 70 or 71 (finance: production of documents), destroys, mutilates, defaces, conceals or removes any document;
- (d) otherwise intentionally obstructs the Treasury in the exercise of their powers under regulation 70 or 71.
- (2) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this regulation, the court may make an order requiring that person, within such period as may be specified in the order, to comply with the request.
Trade: application of information powers in CEMA
73
- (1) Section 77A of CEMA22 applies in relation to a person carrying on a relevant activity as it applies in relation to a person concerned in the importation or exportation of goods but as if—
- (a) in subsection (1), the reference to a person concerned in the importation or exportation of goods for which for that purpose an entry is required by or under CEMA were to a person carrying on a relevant activity;
- (b) any other reference to importation or exportation were to a relevant activity;
- (c) any other reference to goods were to the goods, technology, services or funds to which the relevant activity relates.
- (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a “relevant activity” means an activity which would, unless done under the authority of a trade licence, constitute a contravention of—
- (a) any prohibition in Chapter 2, 3 or 4 of Part 6 (Trade) except the prohibition in regulation 28(1) or regulation 37(1) (export of restricted goods etc.), or
- (b) the prohibition in regulation 44 (circumventing etc. prohibitions).
General trade licences: records
74
- (1) This regulation applies in relation to a person (“P”) who does any act authorised by a general licence issued under regulation 62 (trade licences) (“the licence”).
- (2) P must keep a register or record containing such details as may be necessary to allow the following information, where appropriate, to be identified in relation to each act done under the authority of the licence—
- (a) a description of the act;
- (b) a description of any goods, technology, services or funds to which the act relates;
- (c) the date of the act or the dates between which the act took place;
- (d) the quantity of any goods or funds to which the act relates;
- (e) P’s name and address;
- (f) the name and address of any consignee of goods to which the act relates or any recipient of technology, services or funds to which the act relates;
- (g) in so far as it is known to P, the name and address of the end-user of the goods, technology, services or funds to which the act relates;
- (h) if different from P, the name and address of the supplier of any goods to which the act relates;
- (i) any further information required by the licence.
- (3) The register or record relating to an act must be kept until the end of the calendar year in which the register or record is created and for a further period of 4 years from the end of that calendar year.
- (4) P must notify the Secretary of State in writing of P’s name and the address at which the register or record may be inspected, and must make a further such notification if those details change.
- (5) A notification under paragraph (4) must be given no later than 30 days after—
- (a) P first does any act authorised by the licence, or
- (b) there is any change to the details previously notified.
- (6) A person who fails to comply with a requirement in paragraph (2), (3) or (4) commits an offence.
General trade licences: inspection of records
75
- (1) A person authorised by the Secretary of State or the Commissioners (an “official”) may at any reasonable hour enter premises notified under regulation 74(4) (general trade licences: records) for the purposes of monitoring compliance with, or detecting evasion of, regulation 74(2) or (3).
- (2) An official may require any person on the premises to produce any register or record required to be kept under regulation 74, or any document included in such a register or record, that is in the person’s possession or control.
- (3) An official may inspect and copy any such register, record or document.
- (4) An official must, if requested to do so, produce documentary evidence that he or she is authorised to exercise a power conferred by this regulation.
- (5) A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, the person—
- (a) intentionally obstructs an official in the performance of any of the official’s functions under this regulation, or
- (b) fails to produce a register, record or document when reasonably required to do so by an official under this regulation.
Disclosure of information
76
- (1) The Secretary of State, the Treasury or the Commissioners may, in accordance with this regulation, disclose—
- (a) any information obtained under or by virtue of Part 8 (Exceptions and licences), this Part or Part 11 (Maritime enforcement), or
- (b) any information held in connection with—
- (i) anything done under or by virtue of Part 2 (Designation of persons), Part 3 (Finance), Part 4 (Director disqualification sanctions), Part 6 (Trade) or Part 7 (Ships), or
- (ii) any exception or licence under Part 8 or anything done in accordance with such an exception or under the authority of such a licence.
- (2) Information referred to in paragraph (1) may be disclosed for, or in connection with, any of the following purposes—
- (a) the exercise of functions under these Regulations;
- (b) any purpose stated in regulation 4;
- (c) facilitating, monitoring or ensuring compliance with these Regulations;
- (d) taking any action with a view to instituting, or otherwise for the purposes of, any proceedings in the United Kingdom—
- (i) for an offence under any provision of these Regulations,
- (ii) for an offence under CEMA in connection with a prohibition mentioned in regulation 28(1) and 37(1) (export of restricted goods etc.), or
- (iii) in relation to a monetary penalty under section 146 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017 (breach of financial sanctions legislation)23;
- (e) taking any action with a view to instituting, or otherwise for the purposes of, any proceedings in any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or any British overseas territory for an offence—
- (i) under a provision in any such jurisdiction that is similar to a provision of these Regulations, or
- (ii) in connection with a prohibition in any such jurisdiction that is similar to a prohibition referred to in sub-paragraph (d)(ii);
- (f) compliance with an international obligation24;
- (g) facilitating the exercise by an authority outside the United Kingdom or by an international organisation of functions which correspond to functions under these Regulations.
- (3) Information referred to in paragraph (1) may be disclosed to the following persons—
- (a) a police officer;
- (b) any person holding or acting in any office under or in the service of—
- (i) the Crown in right of the Government of the United Kingdom,
- (ii) the Crown in right of the Scottish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive or the Welsh Government,
- (iii) the States of Jersey, Guernsey or Alderney or the Chief Pleas of Sark,
- (iv) the Government of the Isle of Man, or
- (v) the Government of any British overseas territory;
- (c) any law officer of the Crown for Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man;
- (d) the Scottish Legal Aid Board;
- (e) the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Bank of England, the Jersey Financial Services Commission, the Guernsey Financial Services Commission or the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority;
- (f) any other regulatory body (whether or not in the United Kingdom);
- (g) any organ of the United Nations;
- (h) the Council of the European Union, the European Commission or the European External Action Service;
- (i) the Government of any country;
- (j) any other person where the Secretary of State, the Treasury or the Commissioners (as the case may be) considers that it is appropriate to disclose the information.
- (4) Information referred to in paragraph (1) may be disclosed to any person with the consent of a person who, in their own right, is entitled to the information.
- (5) In paragraph (4) “in their own right” means not merely in the capacity as a servant or agent of another person.
- (6) In paragraph (1)(b)—
- (a) the reference to information includes information obtained at a time when any provision of these Regulations is not in force, and
- (b) the reference to a licence under Part 8 includes a licence or authorisation which has effect or is treated as if it were a licence which had been issued under that Part.
Finance: disclosure to the Treasury
77
- (1) A relevant public authority may disclose information to the Treasury if the disclosure is made for the purpose of enabling or assisting the Treasury to discharge any of its functions in connection with any sanctions regulations25 contained in these Regulations.
- (2) In this regulation—
- “relevant public authority” means—any person holding or acting in any office under or in the service of—the Crown in right of the Government of the United Kingdom,the Crown in right of the Scottish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive or the Welsh Government,any local authority,any police officer,the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Bank of England or any other regulatory body in the United Kingdom, orany other person exercising functions of a public nature;
- “local authority” means—in relation to England—a county council,a district council,a London Borough council,the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a local authority,the Council of the Isles of Scilly, oran eligible parish council within the meaning of section 1(2) of the Local Government Act 200026,in relation to Wales, a county council, a county borough council or a community council,in relation to Scotland, a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 199427, orin relation to Northern Ireland, a district council.
Part 9: supplementary
78
- (1) A disclosure of information under regulation 76 (disclosure of information) or 77 (finance: disclosure to the Treasury) does not breach any restriction on such disclosure imposed by statute or otherwise.
- (2) But nothing in those regulations authorises a disclosure that—
- (a) contravenes the data protection legislation, or
- (b) is prohibited by any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 201628.
- (3) Nothing in this Part is to be read as requiring a person who has acted or is acting as counsel or solicitor for any person to disclose any privileged information in their possession in that capacity.
- (4) Regulations 76 and 77 do not limit the circumstances in which information may be disclosed apart from those regulations.
- (5) Nothing in this Part limits any conditions which may be contained in a Treasury licence or a trade licence.
- (6) In this regulation—
- “the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3 of that Act)29;
- “privileged information” means information with respect to which a claim to legal professional privilege (in Scotland, to confidentiality of communications) could be maintained in legal proceedings.
PART 10 — Enforcement
Penalties for offences
79
- (1) A person who commits an offence under any provision of Part 3 (Finance) or regulation 46(4) (prohibition on port entry), 47(4) (directions prohibiting port entry), 48(3) (movement of ships), or 64 (finance: licensing offences), is liable—
- (a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine (or both);
- (b) on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);
- (c) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);
- (d) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years or a fine (or both).
- (2) A person who commits an offence under any provision of Part 6 (Trade) is liable—
- (a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine (or both);
- (b) on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);
- (c) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);
- (d) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or a fine (or both).
- (3) A person who commits an offence under regulation 11(6) or 13(6) (confidentiality), 65 (director disqualification: licensing offences), 66 (trade: licensing offences), 74(6) (general trade licences: records) or 75(5) (general trade licences: inspection of records) is liable—
- (a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine (or both);
- (b) on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);
- (c) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both);
- (d) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine (or both).
- (4) A person who commits an offence under regulation 47(6) (directions prohibiting port entry: confidentiality), 48(5) (movement of ships: confidentiality), 68(6) or 72 (information offences in connection with Part 3) is liable—
- (a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine (or both);
- (b) on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (or both);
- (c) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (or both).
Liability of officers of bodies corporate etc.
80
- (1) Where an offence under these Regulations, committed by a body corporate—
- (a) is committed with the consent or connivance of any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, or
- (b) is attributable to any neglect on the part of any such person,
that person as well as the body corporate is guilty of the offence and is liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
- (2) In paragraph (1) “director”, in relation to a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of the body corporate.
- (3) Paragraph (1) also applies in relation to a body that is not a body corporate, with the substitution for the reference to a director of the body of a reference—
- (a) in the case of a partnership, to a partner;
- (b) in the case of an unincorporated body other than a partnership—
- (i) where the body’s affairs are managed by its members, to a member of the body;
- (ii) in any other case, to a member of the governing body.
- (4) Section 171(4) of CEMA (which is a provision similar to this regulation) does not apply to any offence under these Regulations to which that provision would, in the absence of this paragraph, apply.
Jurisdiction to try offences
81
- (1) Where an offence under regulation 11(6) or 13(6) (confidentiality), Part 3 (Finance), regulation 64 (finance: licensing offences) or regulation 68(6) or 72 (information offences in connection with Part 3) is committed in the United Kingdom—
- (a) proceedings for the offence may be taken at any place in the United Kingdom, and
- (b) the offence may for all incidental purposes be treated as having been committed at any such place.
- (2) Where an offence under these Regulations is committed outside the United Kingdom—
- (a) proceedings for the offence may be taken at any place in the United Kingdom, and
- (b) the offence may for all incidental purposes be treated as having been committed at any such place.
- (3) In the application of paragraph (2) to Scotland, any such proceedings against a person may be taken—
- (a) in any sheriff court district in which the person is apprehended or is in custody, or
- (b) in such sheriff court district as the Lord Advocate may determine.
- (4) In paragraph (3) “sheriff court district” is to be read in accordance with the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (see section 307(1) of that Act)30.
Procedure for offences by unincorporated bodies
82
- (1) Paragraphs (2) and (3) apply if it is alleged that an offence under these Regulations has been committed by an unincorporated body (as opposed to by a member of the body).
- (2) Proceedings in England and Wales or Northern Ireland for such an offence must be brought against the body in its own name.
- (3) For the purposes of proceedings, for such an offence brought against an unincorporated body—
- (a) rules of court relating to the service of documents have effect as if the body were a body corporate;
- (b) the following provisions apply as they apply in relation to a body corporate—
- (i) section 33 of the Criminal Justice Act 192531 and Schedule 3 to the Magistrates’ Courts Act 198032;
- (ii) section 18 of the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 194533 and Article 166 of, and Schedule 4 to, the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 198134.
- (4) A fine imposed on an unincorporated body on its conviction of an offence under these Regulations is to be paid out of the funds of the body.
Time limit for proceedings for summary offences
83
- (1) Proceedings for an offence under these Regulations which is triable only summarily may be brought within the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to justify the proceedings comes to the prosecutor’s knowledge.
- (2) But such proceedings may not be brought by virtue of paragraph (1) more than 3 years after the commission of the offence.
- (3) A certificate signed by the prosecutor as to the date on which the evidence in question came to the prosecutor’s knowledge is conclusive evidence of the date on which it did so; and a certificate to that effect and purporting to be so signed is to be treated as being so signed unless the contrary is proved.
- (4) In relation to proceedings in Scotland—
- (a) section 136(3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (date of commencement of summary proceedings) applies for the purposes of this regulation as it applies for the purposes of that section, and
- (b) references in this regulation to the prosecutor are to be treated as references to the Lord Advocate.
Trade enforcement: application of CEMA
84
- (1) Where the Commissioners investigate or propose to investigate any matter with a view to determining—
- (a) whether there are grounds for believing that a relevant offence has been committed, or
- (b) whether a person should be prosecuted for such an offence,
the matter is to be treated as an assigned matter.
- (2) In paragraph (1) “assigned matter” has the meaning given by section 1(1) of CEMA35.
- (3) In this regulation a “relevant offence” means an offence under—
- (a) Part 6 (Trade),
- (b) regulation 66 (trade: licensing offences),
- (c) regulation 74(6) (general trade licences: records), or
- (d) regulation 75(5) (general trade licences: inspection of records).
- (4) The Commissioners may not investigate the suspected commission of a relevant offence listed in paragraphs (5) and (6), unless the suspected offence has been the subject of—
- (a) a referral to the Commissioners by the Secretary of State, or
- (b) a decision by the Commissioners to treat the suspected offence as if it had been referred to them under sub-paragraph (a).
- (5) Paragraph (4) applies to the suspected commission of an offence under any of the following provisions—
- (a) regulation 35(3) (provision of interception and monitoring services);
- (b) regulation 44(2) (circumventing etc. prohibitions) insofar as it relates to the prohibition at regulation 35(1).
- (6) Paragraph (4) also applies to the suspected commission of a relevant offence under any of regulations 66(1), 66(2), 74(6) and 75(5) insofar as—
- (a) the suspected offence relates to a licence issued under regulation 62, and
- (b) the activity authorised by that licence would, if no licence had been issued, amount to an offence specified in paragraph (5).
- (7) Section 138 of CEMA36 (arrest of persons) applies to a person who has committed, or whom there are reasonable grounds to suspect of having committed, a relevant offence as it applies to a person who has committed, or whom there are reasonable grounds to suspect of having committed, an offence for which the person is liable to be arrested under the customs and excise Acts37, but as if—
- (a) any reference to an offence under, or for which a person is liable to be arrested under, the customs and excise Acts were to a relevant offence;
- (b) in subsection (2), the reference to any person so liable were to a person who has committed, or whom there are reasonable grounds to suspect of having committed, a relevant offence.
- (8) The provisions of CEMA mentioned in paragraph (9) apply in relation to proceedings for a relevant offence as they apply in relation to proceedings for an offence under the customs and excise Acts, but as if—
- (a) any reference to the customs and excise Acts were to any of the provisions mentioned in paragraph (3)(a) to (d);
- (b) in section 145(6), the reference to an offence for which a person is liable to be arrested under the customs and excise Acts were to a relevant offence;
- (c) in section 151, the reference to any penalty imposed under the customs and excise Acts were to any penalty imposed under these Regulations in relation to a relevant offence;
- (d) in section 154(2)—
- (i) the reference to proceedings relating to customs or excise were to proceedings under any of the provisions mentioned in paragraph (3)(a) to (d), and
- (ii) the reference to the place from which any goods have been brought included a reference to the place to which goods have been exported, supplied or delivered or the place to or from which technology has been transferred.
- (9) The provisions of CEMA are sections 145, 146, 147, 148(1), 150, 151, 152, 154 and 15538 (legal proceedings).
Trade offences in CEMA: modification of penalty
85
- (1) Paragraph (2) applies where a person is guilty of an offence under section 68(2) of CEMA in connection with a prohibition mentioned in regulation 28(1) or 37(1) (export of restricted goods etc.).
- (2) Where this paragraph applies, the reference to 7 years in section 68(3)(b) of CEMA39 is to be read as a reference to 10 years.
- (3) Paragraph (4) applies where a person is guilty of an offence under section 170(2) of CEMA in connection with a prohibition mentioned in regulation 28(1) or 37(1).
- (4) Where this paragraph applies, the reference to 7 years in section 170(3)(b) of CEMA40 is to be read as a reference to 10 years.
Application of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005
86
Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (investigatory powers)41 applies to any offence under Part 3 (Finance) or regulation 64 (finance: licensing offences).
Monetary penalties
87
Each provision in Part 6 (Trade) which contains a prohibition imposed for a purpose mentioned in section 3(1) or (2) of the Act is to be regarded as not being financial sanctions legislation for the purposes of Part 8 of the Policing and Crime Act 201742.
PART 11 — Maritime enforcement
Exercise of maritime enforcement powers
88
- (1) A maritime enforcement officer may, for a purpose mentioned in paragraph (2) or (3), exercise any of the maritime enforcement powers in relation to—
- (a) a British ship in foreign waters or international waters,
- (b) a ship without nationality in international waters, or
- (c) a foreign ship in international waters,
and a ship within sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) is referred to in this Part as “a relevant ship”.
- (2) The maritime enforcement powers may be exercised for the purpose of enforcing any of the following—
- (a) a prohibition in any of regulations 28 to 31 (trade prohibitions relating to restricted goods and restricted technology);
- (b) a prohibition in any of regulations 37 to 40 (trade prohibitions relating to goods of strategic concern and technology of strategic concern);
- (c) a prohibition imposed by a condition of a trade licence in relation to a prohibition mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b).
- (3) The maritime enforcement powers may also be exercised in relation to a relevant ship for the purpose of—
- (a) investigating the suspected carriage of relevant goods on the ship, or
- (b) preventing the continued carriage on the ship of goods suspected to be relevant goods.
- (4) In this Part, “the maritime enforcement powers” are the powers conferred by regulations 90 (power to stop, search, board etc.) and 91 (seizure power).
- (5) This regulation is subject to regulation 92 (restrictions on exercise of maritime enforcement powers).
Maritime enforcement officers
89
- (1) The following persons are “maritime enforcement officers” for the purposes of this Part—
- (a) a commissioned officer of any of His Majesty’s ships;
- (b) a member of the Ministry of Defence Police (within the meaning of section 1 of the Ministry of Defence Police Act 198743);
- (c) a constable—
- (i) who is a member of a police force in England and Wales,
- (ii) within the meaning of section 99 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 201244, or
- (iii) who is a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland or the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve;
- (d) a special constable—
- (i) appointed under section 27 of the Police Act 199645,
- (ii) appointed under section 9 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, or
- (iii) in Northern Ireland, appointed by virtue of provision incorporating section 79 of the Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Act 184746;
- (e) a constable who is a member of the British Transport Police Force;
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