Understand Your Situation
Specialist advice for individuals facing money laundering charges and asset recovery proceedings under POCA 2002. Our team provides authoritative guidance on complex financial scrutiny.
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) provides law enforcement agencies with expansive powers to freeze, seize, and confiscate assets believed to be the result of criminal conduct. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 has recently introduced enhanced powers for the seizure and recovery of suspected criminal cryptoassets, including the authority to 'recreate' wallets and transfer assets into law enforcement-controlled wallets. Money laundering offences involve concealing, disguising, converting, or transferring criminal property, and now include specific exemptions for paying away funds under £1,000 when exiting certain customer relationships.
Understand Your Legal Standing
Expert legal representation is critical from the earliest stages of an investigation. A confidential consultation provides clarity on your rights and the procedural steps ahead.
Plan Your Defence
Defending POCA proceedings requires a forensic analysis of financial history to demonstrate the legitimate source of funds, particularly during Account Freezing Orders (AFOs) and Restraint Orders. Technical defence strategies focus on challenging 'criminal lifestyle' assumptions and contesting benefit figures in confiscation hearings to prevent disproportionate financial penalties. Recent amendments also allow courts to exchange seized cryptoassets for cash to avoid market volatility and allow for the destruction of assets where returning them is not conducive to the public good. Immediate legal oversight is essential to ensuring that individuals maintain access to sufficient funds for living expenses and legal fees during active proceedings.
Develop a Strategic Defence
Every case involves unique evidential complexities. Specialist legal advice ensures that your version of events is properly represented and that all forensic opportunities are explored.
Legal Aid Availability
For many criminal matters, from police station interviews to Crown Court trials, public funding (Legal Aid) may be available to cover your legal costs.
Eligibility is determined by the seriousness of the case and, in some instances, a means assessment. Our team will conduct an immediate, confidential assessment of your eligibility to ensure that financial constraints do not stand in the way of a robust defence.
