Cash Suspect Arrested: Police Given Expanded Powers

In an effort to combat criminal activity, law enforcement agencies have been granted enhanced powers to investigate and seize cash suspected of being linked to illegal activities.

New Regulations Grant Officers Additional Authority

According to new regulations, officers are now authorized to detain individuals carrying large sums of cash without prior approval, as long as the amount exceeds £100. The police can request that the individual permit a search of their person or any articles they have with them.

• Officers are granted the power to search an individual’s person, clothing, and any items they are carrying “so far as he or she thinks it necessary or expedient.”
• Detention is allowed for up to 48 hours while the cash is seized and investigated.
• If no charges are brought within this timeframe, the cash must be released back to its owner.

Extended Detention Periods

However, if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the cash is linked to criminal activity, it can be detained for longer periods of time. The police may also apply to a magistrate’s court to extend the detention period up to three months, or in some cases, two years.

• Cash seized must be paid into an interest-bearing account and held there until it is either forfeited or released.
• If the cash is released back to its owner, any interest accrued during the detention period must be added to it.

Impact on Law Enforcement Agencies

The new powers have been welcomed by law enforcement agencies as a significant step forward in their efforts to disrupt criminal activity and prevent the misuse of cash for illegal purposes.

Related Article: Police Crack Down on Cash-Based Crimes