03/06/2014

Corrupt Barristers Who Help Criminals To Face Jail

The Home Office is planning a new rule that could lead to lawyers, couriers or accountants who turn a blind eye to criminal activity from which they profit convicted of a new offence of 'participation in an organised crime group'.

The rule will give also greater powers to seize criminal assets to the National Crime Agency.

The Home Office believes too many people are helping criminal gangs avoiding questions about why their services are required, and later deny any knowledge of the criminal activity when cases reach court.

Home Office minister Karen Bradley said: "This new offence sends out a clear message to those individuals - if you are helping to oil the wheels of organised crime, you will be prosecuted and face being jailed."

The Home Office said it will legislate on the new rules as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Nowadays there is estimated to be £1.5bn extraordinary money in unpaid confiscation orders; double the amount seized in criminal assets since 2010.

The Public Accounts Committee said just 26p in every £100 of criminal proceeds was retrieved by authorities in 2013.

(CVS/IT)

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