{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/proceeds-of-crime-act-2002/section-344",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/proceeds-of-crime-act-2002/section-344.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2002/29",
  "legislation_title": "Proceeds of Crime Act 2002",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/proceeds-of-crime-act-2002",
  "path": "section/344",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "344",
  "heading": "Courts",
  "text": "In this Chapter references to the court are to—\n(a) the Crown Court, in relation to an order for the purposes of a confiscation investigation , a money laundering investigation , a detained cash investigation, a detained property investigation , a frozen funds investigation or a cryptoasset investigation;\n(b) the High Court, in relation to an order for the purposes of a civil recovery investigation or an exploitation proceeds investigation ...",
  "extent": "E+W+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 344(a) substituted (1.6.2015 for E.W., 1.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 66(3)(a), 116(1); S.I. 2015/983, art. 2(2)(a) (with art. 5); S.I. 2016/147, art. 3(f) (with art. 5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 344(a) substituted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.1.2018 for E.W.S. for specified purposes, 16.4.2018 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. 42; S.I. 2018/78, reg. 5(3)(a)(i)(ii); S.I. 2021/724, reg. 4(i)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 344(a) substituted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 26.4.2024 for S. for specified purposes, 26.4.2024 for E.W.N.I. in so far as not already in force, 7.11.2024 for S. in so far as not already in force) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), s. 219(1)(2)(b), Sch. 9 para. 8(5); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 4(b)(i)(ii); S.I. 2024/1108, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 344(b) inserted (6.4.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(5), Sch. 19 para. 5 (with s. 180); S.I. 2010/816, art. 2, Sch. para. 18"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 344(b) repealed (1.6.2015 for E.W., 1.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 66(3)(b), 116(1), Sch. 8 Pt. 5; S.I. 2015/983, art. 2(2)(a)(g) (with art. 5); S.I. 2016/147, art. 3(f)(l) (with art. 5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 344 in force at 24.2.2003 by S.I. 2003/120, art. 2, Sch. (with arts. 3, 4) (as amended (20.2.2003) by S.I. 2003/333, art. 14)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/29/section/344",
    "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."
}