These are carried out post conviction and can have serious ramifications financially for a convicted defendant
When dealing with confiscation, the Court will look to establish two separate figures:
However, before reaching this stage, there are strict rules which relate to confiscation orders which the Prosecution must adhere to.
Under Section 14 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Court are required to either deal with confiscation at the time of sentence or to postpone confiscation for a specified period.
The postponement of confiscation is normally done through the setting of a timetable, this will normally include directions for the following:
If there is no postponement of confiscation or the making of an order, the Prosecution will need to apply under what is known as the slip-rule to bring the case back before the Court and try to re-open the case and seek confiscation. This will have to be done within 56 days.
Once a timetable has been set, there is still a requirement for a confiscation to be made during a 'permitted period'. This is the period which is two years from the date of conviction. This can only be extended in exceptional circumstances.