GLD Vacancies

Information watchdog consults on being granted investigation and other powers under POCA

The Information Commissioner has launched a consultation on her office being granted access to investigation and other associated powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).

The ICO said: “Personal data has a monetary value and is increasingly being recognised and treated as a commodity which is stolen and traded for financial gain. It is an asset exploited by criminal gangs, which can lead to significant financial losses and illegal monetary gains.

“The General Data Protection Regulation (GPDR) has introduced increased financial penalties for civil breaches of the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA18). Criminal offences under the DPA18 are now recordable. However, the only sanction available to the courts following a criminal conviction is a fine, which in some cases will be much less than the financial gains made by the offender. This will inevitably lead to a greater disparity between the deterrent and punitive effects of sanctions imposed in relation to civil breaches and criminal offences.”

The information watchdog noted that the courts can make POCA confiscation orders against convicted individuals for payment to the state of an equivalent value to their benefit from crime.

It said POCA investigation and other associated powers would enable the ICO to assist the court in the identification of assets and to determine the value of a criminal’s proceeds from crime.

The ICO has previously worked in partnership with other agencies which conducted financial investigations on its behalf and assisted the courts with these cases. “To date the ICO has prosecuted and convicted a number of individuals who were later stripped of assets by the courts using POCA confiscation powers.”

But the watchdog said these partner agencies were no longer able to provide assistance to it.

It added that there had been significant growth in the number of cases involving financial gain “and should the ICO not be granted financial investigation and other associated powers under POCA, an ever-increasing number of offenders will be able to retain what can amount to significant criminal proceeds. In some cases these gains can illegally fund lavish lifestyles.”

POCA provides financial investigation powers to Accredited Financial Investigators (AFI). To have access to the POCA powers, AFIs must currently be a member of staff of a public body, designation by order by the Secretary of State, and trained and accredited by the National Crime Agency.

The ICO is proposing that there will be one AFI based within its Investigations Department who will consider asset recovery in all cases where offenders have benefited from criminal conduct.

The powers the Information Commissioner is seeking at this time are:

  • To apply to the court for Restraint Orders (under Part 2 of POCA);
  • To apply to the court for Confiscation Orders (under Part 2 of POCA);
  • Cash seizure, detention and forfeiture from premises (under Part 5, Chapter 3 of POCA);
  • Asset seizure and forfeiture from premises (under Part 5, Chapter 3A of POCA);
  • To undertake investigations (including search and seizure warrants) to support the proceedings sought above (under Part 8 of POCA); and
  • Access to information relevant to the investigation of money laundering offences.

The ICO is also seeking relevant authorisation powers that will enable it to exercise the powers referred to above.

The watchdog said: “The powers sought will enable the ICO to undertake confiscation investigations and apply to the court for restraint of any asset or realisable property when there is evidence to show that a defendant in criminal proceedings has benefited from their conduct.

“The powers sought in relation to seizure and forfeiture of cash and assets will enable the ICO to investigate and recover items that are derived from or intended for the use in criminal conduct.”

It added: “Access to information relevant to the investigation of money laundering offences is being sought to enable the ICO to respond to the changing nature of criminal activity involving the misuse of personal data, and to engage with other law enforcement agencies more effectively in cases which may involve offences of money laundering.”

Where applicable, the ICO is seeking the equivalent powers in Northern Ireland.

The ICO said it might amend the powers sought in light of the responses received. The consultation closes on 6 December 2019.