33. Money laundering (additional chapter)

Abstract

This chapter discusses the offences in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 which criminalize dealing with the proceeds of crime. These are extremely broad offences with many features which could be characterized as being draconian as successive governments have sought to combat serious crime by targeting not just the offenders (who may commit a money laundering offence in relation to their own criminal conduct), but all those who assist in the disposal of criminal proceeds. These offences have generated a huge volume of case law, much of which has reached the House of Lords and the Supreme Court. This chapter analyses how these offences relate to handling stolen goods.