{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/proceeds-of-crime-act-2002/section-2A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/proceeds-of-crime-act-2002/section-2A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2002/29",
  "legislation_title": "Proceeds of Crime Act 2002",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/proceeds-of-crime-act-2002",
  "path": "section/2A",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "2A",
  "heading": "Contribution to the reduction of crime",
  "text": "(1) A relevant authority must exercise its functions under this Act in the way which it considers is best calculated to contribute to the reduction of crime.\n(2) In this section “a relevant authority” means—\n(a) the National Crime Agency,\n(b) the Director of Public Prosecutions,\n(c) the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland,\n(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...\n(e) the Director of the Serious Fraud Office.\n(f) Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, or\n(g) the Financial Conduct Authority.\n(3) In considering under subsection (1) the way which is best calculated to contribute to the reduction of crime a relevant authority must have regard to any guidance given to it by—\n(a) in the case of the National Crime Agency, the Secretary of State,\n(b) in the case of the Director of Public Prosecutions ... or the Director of the Serious Fraud Office, the Attorney General, ...\n(c) in the case of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland, the Advocate General for Northern Ireland , and\n(d) in the case of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs or the Financial Conduct Authority, the Treasury.\n(4) The guidance must indicate that the reduction of crime is in general best secured by means of criminal investigations and criminal proceedings.\n(5) The reference in this section to the Advocate General for Northern Ireland is to be read, before the coming into force of section 27(1) of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26), as a reference to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Ss. 2A-2C inserted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 124; S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 2A(2)(a) substituted (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 8 para. 109; S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(v)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 2A(2)(d) omitted (27.3.2014) by virtue of The Public Bodies (Merger of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of Revenue and Customs Prosecutions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/834), art. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 20(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Word in s. 2A(2) omitted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 18(2)(a); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(e)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 2A(2)(f)(g) inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 18(2)(b); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(e)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 2A(3)(a) substituted (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 8 para. 109; S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(v)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 2A(3)(b) omitted (27.3.2014) by virtue of The Public Bodies (Merger of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of Revenue and Customs Prosecutions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/834), art. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 20(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Word in s. 2A(3)(b) omitted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 18(3)(a); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(e)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "S. 2A(3)(d) and word inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. in so far as not already in force, 28.6.2021 for N.I. in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), s. 58(5)(6), Sch. 5 para. 18(3)(b); S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(1)(e); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(e)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/29/section/2A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:19:19.387180+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}