OpenLegislation

Serious Crime Act 2015

2015 c. 9 · Enacted 3 March 2015 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 6 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 29 June 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 4 para. 48omittedCrime and Policing Act 2026 Sch. 22 para. 33
s. 26omittedCrime and Policing Act 2026 Sch. 22 para. 32
s. 69(1)words insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 75(2)
s. 69(2)(b)(ii)words insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 75(2)
s. 69(2A)insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 75(3)
s. 69(8)words omittedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 75(4)

An Act to amend the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Computer Misuse Act 1990, Part 4 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009, section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, the Sexual Offences Act 2003, the Street Offences Act 1959, the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003, the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Act 2005, the Prison Act 1952 and the Terrorism Act 2006; to make provision about involvement in organised crime groups and about serious crime prevention orders; to make provision for the seizure and forfeiture of drug-cutting agents; to make it an offence to possess an item that contains advice or guidance about committing sexual offences against children; to create an offence in relation to controlling or coercive behaviour in intimate or family relationships; to make provision for the prevention or restriction of the use of communication devices by persons detained in custodial institutions; to make provision approving for the purposes of section 8 of the European Union Act 2011 certain draft decisions under Article 352 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union relating to serious crime; to make provision about codes of practice that relate to the exercise and performance, in connection with the prevention or detection of serious crime, of powers and duties in relation to communications; and for connected purposes.

[3rd March 2015]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part 1: Proceeds of crime
  2. Chapter 1: England and Wales
  3. Confiscation: assets held by defendant and other
  4. 1Determination of extent of defendant's interest in property
  5. 2Provision of information
  6. 3Appeals Repealed
  7. 4Enforcement receivers
  8. Confiscation: other amendments
  9. 5Time for payment
  10. 6Confiscation and victim surcharge orders
  11. 7Orders for securing compliance with confiscation order
  12. 8Variation or discharge
  13. 9Absconding defendants
  14. 10Default sentences
  15. 11Conditions for exercise of restraint order powers
  16. 12Continuation of restraint order after quashed conviction
  17. 13Conditions for exercise of search and seizure powers
  18. 14Seized money etc
  19. Chapter 2: Scotland
  20. Confiscation
  21. 15Restitution order and victim surcharge
  22. 16Orders for securing compliance with confiscation order
  23. 17Compliance orders: appeals by prosecutor
  24. 18Accused persons unlawfully at large
  25. 19Enforcement of confiscation orders
  26. 20Conditions for exercise of restraint order powers
  27. 21Continuation of restraint order after conviction quashed or verdict set aside
  28. 22Conditions for exercise of search and seizure powers
  29. Civil recovery
  30. 23Prohibitory property orders: PPO receivers
  31. Chapter 3: Northern Ireland
  32. Confiscation: assets held by defendant and other
  33. 24Determination of extent of defendant's interest in property
  34. 25Provision of information
  35. 26Appeals
  36. 27Enforcement receivers
  37. Confiscation: other amendments
  38. 28Time for payment
  39. 29Orders for securing compliance with confiscation order
  40. 30Variation or discharge
  41. 31Absconding defendants
  42. 32Default sentences
  43. 33Conditions for exercise of restraint order powers
  44. 34Continuation of restraint order after quashed conviction
  45. 35Conditions for exercise of search and seizure powers
  46. 36Seized money etc
  47. Chapter 4: Disclosures, investigations, co-operation and enforcement
  48. 37Exemption from civil liability for money-laundering disclosures
  49. 38Confiscation investigations
  50. 39External orders and investigations: meaning of “obtaining property”
  51. 40Confiscation orders by magistrates' courts
  52. Part 2: Computer misuse
  53. 41Unauthorised acts causing, or creating risk of, serious damage
  54. 42Obtaining articles for purposes relating to computer misuse
  55. 43Territorial scope of computer misuse offence
  56. 44Savings
  57. Part 3: Organised, serious and gang-related crime
  58. Organised crime groups
  59. 45Offence of participating in activities of organised crime group
  60. Serious crime prevention orders
  61. 46Extension of Part 1 of Serious Crime Act 2007 to Scotland
  62. 47Serious crime prevention orders: meaning of “serious offence”
  63. 48Powers of Crown Court to replace orders on breach
  64. 49Extension of order where person charged
  65. 50Serious crime prevention orders and financial reporting etc
  66. Gang injunctions
  67. 51Injunctions to prevent gang-related violence and drug-dealing activity
  68. Part 4: Seizure and forfeiture of drug-cutting agents
  69. Warrants
  70. 52Applications for search and seizure warrants
  71. 53Further provisions about search and seizure warrants
  72. 54Execution of search and seizure warrants
  73. Seizure
  74. 55Seizure of substances under search and seizure warrant
  75. 56Seizure of substances without search and seizure warrant
  76. 57Notice to be given where substances seized
  77. 58Containers
  78. Retention of seized substances
  79. 59Initial retention of seized substances
  80. 60Continued retention or return of seized substances
  81. Forfeiture etc or return of seized substances
  82. 61Forfeiture and disposal, or return, of seized substances
  83. 62Appeal against decision under section 61
  84. 63Return of substance to person entitled to it, or disposal if return impracticable
  85. Supplementary
  86. 64Compensation
  87. 65Interpretation etc
  88. Part 5: Protection of children and others
  89. Protection of children
  90. 66Child cruelty offence
  91. 67Sexual communication with a child
  92. 68Child sexual exploitation
  93. 69Possession of paedophile manual
  94. Female genital mutilation
  95. 70Offence of female genital mutilation: extra-territorial acts
  96. 71Anonymity for victims of female genital mutilation
  97. 72Offence of failing to protect girl from risk of genital mutilation
  98. 73Female genital mutilation protection orders
  99. 74Duty to notify police of female genital mutilation
  100. 75Guidance about female genital mutilation
  101. Strangulation or suffocation
  102. 75AStrangulation or suffocation
  103. 75BOffences under section 75A committed outside the United Kingdom
  104. Domestic abuse
  105. 76Controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship
  106. 76AOffences under section 76 committed outside the United Kingdom
  107. 77Guidance about investigation of offences under section 76
  108. Part 6: Miscellaneous and general
  109. Miscellaneous
  110. 78Knives and offensive weapons in prisons
  111. 79Throwing articles into prisons
  112. 80Prevention or restriction of use of communication devices by prisoners etc
  113. 80APrevention or restriction of use of communication devices for drug dealing
  114. 81Preparation or training abroad for terrorism
  115. 82Approval of draft decisions under Article 352 of TFEU relating to serious crime Repealed
  116. 83Codes of practice about investigatory powers: journalistic sources Repealed
  117. 84Termination of pregnancy on grounds of sex of foetus
  118. General
  119. 85Minor and consequential amendments
  120. 86Transitional and saving provisions
  121. 87Extent
  122. 88Commencement
  123. 89Short title
  124. Schedule 1: Amendments of Serious Crime Act 2007: Scotland
  125. 1Paragraph 1
  126. 2Paragraph 2
  127. 3Paragraph 3
  128. 4Paragraph 4
  129. 5Paragraph 5
  130. 6Paragraph 6
  131. 7Paragraph 7
  132. 8Paragraph 8
  133. 9Paragraph 9
  134. 10Paragraph 10
  135. 11Paragraph 11
  136. 12Paragraph 12
  137. 13Paragraph 13
  138. 14Paragraph 14
  139. 15Paragraph 15
  140. 16Paragraph 16
  141. 17Paragraph 17
  142. 18Paragraph 18
  143. 19Paragraph 19
  144. 20Paragraph 20
  145. 21Paragraph 21
  146. 22Paragraph 22
  147. 23Paragraph 23
  148. 24Paragraph 24
  149. 25Paragraph 25
  150. 26Paragraph 26
  151. 27Paragraph 27
  152. 28Paragraph 28
  153. 29Paragraph 29
  154. 30Paragraph 30
  155. 31Paragraph 31
  156. Schedule 2: Execution of search and seizure warrants
  157. Persons who may execute warrant
  158. 1Paragraph 1
  159. Warrant to be executed within 3 months
  160. 2Paragraph 2
  161. All-premises warrants
  162. 3Paragraph 3
  163. Search of premises more than once
  164. 4Paragraph 4
  165. Time of search
  166. 5Paragraph 5
  167. Evidence of authority etc
  168. 6Paragraph 6
  169. Extent of search
  170. 7Paragraph 7
  171. Inspection of substances
  172. 8Paragraph 8
  173. Securing premises after entry
  174. 9Paragraph 9
  175. Endorsement of warrant
  176. 10Paragraph 10
  177. Return and retention of warrant
  178. 11Paragraph 11
  179. Interpretation etc
  180. 12Paragraph 12
  181. Schedule 3: Paedophile manuals: providers of information society services
  182. Interpretation of this Schedule
  183. 1Paragraph 1
  184. Domestic service providers: extension of liability
  185. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  186. Non-UK service providers: restriction on institution of proceedings
  187. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  188. Exception for mere conduits
  189. 4Paragraph 4
  190. Exception for caching
  191. 5Paragraph 5
  192. Exception for hosting
  193. 6Paragraph 6
  194. Schedule 4: Minor and consequential amendments
  195. Visiting Forces Act 1952 (c. 67)
  196. 1Paragraph 1
  197. Street Offences Act 1959 (c. 57)
  198. 2Paragraph 2
  199. Criminal Appeal Act 1968 (c. 19)
  200. 3Paragraph 3
  201. Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1980 (c. 47)
  202. 4Paragraph 4
  203. Senior Courts Act 1981 (c. 54)
  204. 5Paragraph 5
  205. Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 (c. 27)
  206. 6Paragraph 6
  207. Computer Misuse Act 1990 (c. 18)
  208. 7Paragraph 7
  209. 8Paragraph 8
  210. 9Paragraph 9
  211. 10Paragraph 10
  212. 11Paragraph 11
  213. 12Paragraph 12
  214. Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41)
  215. 13Paragraph 13
  216. Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 46)
  217. 14Paragraph 14
  218. 15Paragraph 15
  219. 16Paragraph 16
  220. Family Law Act 1996 (c. 27)
  221. 17Paragraph 17
  222. Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (c. 23)
  223. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  224. Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29)
  225. 19Paragraph 19
  226. 20Paragraph 20
  227. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  228. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  229. 23Paragraph 23
  230. 24Paragraph 24
  231. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  232. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  233. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  234. 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
  235. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  236. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  237. 31Paragraph 31
  238. 32Paragraph 32
  239. 33Paragraph 33
  240. 34Paragraph 34
  241. 35Paragraph 35
  242. 36Paragraph 36
  243. 37Paragraph 37
  244. 38Paragraph 38
  245. 39Paragraph 39
  246. 40Paragraph 40
  247. 41Paragraph 41
  248. 42Paragraph 42
  249. 43Paragraph 43
  250. 44Paragraph 44
  251. 45Paragraph 45
  252. 46Paragraph 46
  253. 47Paragraph 47
  254. 48Paragraph 48
  255. 49Paragraph 49
  256. 50Paragraph 50
  257. 51Paragraph 51
  258. 52Paragraph 52
  259. 53Paragraph 53
  260. 54Paragraph 54
  261. 55Paragraph 55
  262. 56Paragraph 56
  263. 57Paragraph 57
  264. 58Paragraph 58
  265. 59Paragraph 59
  266. Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 (c. 31)
  267. 60Paragraph 60
  268. Courts Act 2003 (c. 39)
  269. 61Paragraph 61
  270. Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42)
  271. 62Paragraph 62
  272. 63Paragraph 63
  273. 64Paragraph 64
  274. 65Paragraph 65
  275. 66Paragraph 66
  276. Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44)
  277. 67Paragraph 67
  278. 68Paragraph 68
  279. 69Paragraph 69 Repealed
  280. 70Paragraph 70
  281. Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15)
  282. 71Paragraph 71
  283. 72Paragraph 72
  284. 73Paragraph 73
  285. Terrorism Act 2006 (c. 11)
  286. 74Paragraph 74
  287. Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52)
  288. 75Paragraph 75
  289. Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27)
  290. 76Paragraph 76
  291. 77Paragraph 77
  292. 78Paragraph 78
  293. 79Paragraph 79
  294. 80Paragraph 80
  295. 81Paragraph 81
  296. 82Paragraph 82
  297. Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26)
  298. 83Paragraph 83
  299. 84Paragraph 84
  300. 85Paragraph 85
  301. Crime and Security Act 2010 (c. 17)
  302. 86Paragraph 86
  303. Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10)
  304. 87Paragraph 87
  305. 88Paragraph 88
  306. Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 (c. 3)
  307. 89Paragraph 89
  308. Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (c. 12)
  309. 90Paragraph 90