The Policing and Crime Act 2017 has received Royal Assent.

Among other things, the Act:

• increases criminal penalties from a maximum of two years to seven years for breaches of financial sanctions (Section 144 (3));
• makes deferred prosecution agreements available in breach of financial sanctions cases (section 150); and
• Introduces serious crime prevention orders for breach of financial sanctions cases (section 151).

These are civil orders, imposed by a Court, designed to prevent a person from (further) engagement in serious crime.

Such orders do not levy financial penalties but may contain targeted prohibitions, restrictions or requirements that the Court considers appropriate for the purpose of restricting or disrupting further involvement in serious crime.

Copies of the

• Act
• and
• Press release