Unexplained Wealth Orders
(asked on 28th January 2025) - View Source
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many unexplained wealth orders were issued in each year since 2018; what was the value of the wealth involved; what amount was recovered; and how many prosecutions and convictions took place.
The Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) regime was introduced in the Criminal Finances Act 2017. The number of UWOs obtained, wealth involved (estimated value of assets secured and estimated value of assets recovered) and number of prosecutions and convictions is outlined below.
Year | Number of operations that obtained a UWO | Estimated Value of Assets secured | Estimated Value of Recovery Order obtained | Number of Prosecutions/ Convictions |
2018 | 1 | £30,000,000 | £12,000,000 | NIL |
2019 | 3 | £113,200,000 | £10,000,000 | |
2020 | 0 |
|
| |
2021 | 0 |
|
| |
2022 | 0 |
|
| |
2023 | 1 | £1,800,000 |
| |
2024 | 1 | £275,000 |
| |
2025 | 1 | £1,500,000 |
| |
Total | 7 | £146,775,000 | £22,000,000 |
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It is important to note that a UWO is only an investigatory order into an asset. A number of the UWO investigations listed that have not resulted in civil recovery proceedings are ongoing investigations. Any property subject to a UWO can be frozen whilst under an investigation which disrupts criminal activity but the property itself cannot be recovered using a UWO, it must be recovered through subsequent civil recovery proceedings. Civil recovery proceedings apply to assets rather than individuals so require no prosecution or criminal conviction.
The Government publishes statistics annually on the number of UWOs applied for and obtained. The most recent report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unexplained-wealth-orders-2023-to-2024-annual-report/unexplained-wealth-orders-2023-to-2024-annual-report