Neill Blundell

2 months ago | jdsupra.com | Jonah Anderson |Neill Blundell |Emma Middleton

Previously, where a country needed assistance from law enforcement in another jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute criminal offences, it would have to go through the notoriously slow and often fruitless process of issuing a mutual legal assistance request. Interpol aims to change that with its new Silver Notices.

Jan 21, 2025 | jdsupra.com | Neill Blundell

When they were introduced in 2017, Unexplained Wealth Orders ("UWOs") were hailed as an important new law enforcement tool, which would allow more robust and effective investigation of the suspected proceeds of crime. The Criminal Finances Act 2017 added provisions to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 ("POCA") to create the UWOs framework, as well as account freezing orders ("AFOs"), account forfeiture orders and account forfeiture notices.

Jul 5, 2023 | blog.macfarlanes.com | Neill Blundell |Max Hobbs

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has appointed its new director. Nick Ephgrave QPM, a former assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, will start his tenure at the end of September this year. Notably, this is the first time a non-lawyer will be the director of the SFO. The appointment of a non-lawyer may mark a change in approach or strategy for the SFO, which has faced a number of criticisms under the current director.

Apr 13, 2023 | blog.macfarlanes.com | Neill Blundell |Helen Harvey

On 11 April 2023, the government finally tabled legislation introducing a much-anticipated new failure to prevent (FTP) fraud offence, as part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill which is currently making its way through Parliament.

Apr 3, 2023 | lexology.com | Neill Blundell |Helen Harvey

Recognising the increasing threat to the UK’s national security and prosperity, on 30 March, HM Treasury and the Home Office published the Economic Crime Plan for 2023-2026 (the Plan). The Plan – officially called the Economic Crime Plan 2 – commits HM Government to:reducing money laundering and recovering more criminal assets;combatting kleptocracy and driving down sanctions evasion; andcutting fraud.