Editing Assets Recovery Agency

{{Short description|Former non-ministerial government department in the United Kingdom}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name     = Assets Recovery Agency
| logo            = Assets Recovery Agency logo.jpg
| logo_width      = 
| logo_caption    = 
| formed          = {{Start date|2003|02|df=y}}
| dissolved       = {{end date|2008|04|01|df=y}}
| headquarters    = 
| motto           = 
| employees       = 
| budget          = 
| chief1_name     = 
| chief1_position = 
| chief2_name     = 
| chief2_position = 
<!-- (etc.) -->
| director_general     = 
| agency_type     = [[The Crown|Crown status]] [[non-ministerial government department]]
| parent_department = [[Home Office]]
| keydocument1    = [[Proceeds of Crime Act 2002]]
}}

The '''Assets Recovery Agency''' ('''ARA''') was a [[non-ministerial government department]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. It was established under the [[Proceeds of Crime Act 2002]] (POCA) to reduce [[crime]] by confiscating the proceeds of any crime. It was granted a new power of [[civil recovery]] through the [[High Court of Justice|High Court]], and could also take over the powers of the [[HM Revenue and Customs]] (HMRC) to levy [[tax]] without identifying a source for taxed income.

The ARA became operational in February 2003, but it failed to meet its targets for the confiscation of criminal funds.<ref>{{ cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5077846.stm | title=Assets Recovery Agency 'failing' | work=[[BBC News]] | date=14 June 2006 | accessdate=2008-03-23 }}</ref> It was announced in January 2007 that it would be merged with the [[Serious Organised Crime Agency]] (SOCA), which was established in 2006. Provisions to achieve this were contained in the [[Serious Crime Act 2007]]. There were also proposals for other law enforcement agencies, such as HMRC, to be given similar powers of civil recovery at the same time.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6251339.stm | title=Assets Recovery Agency abolished | work=BBC News | date=11 January 2007 | accessdate=2008-03-23 }}</ref> On 1 March 2008, the transfer of the Director and staff of the Assets Recovery Agency, its property, rights and liabilities to SOCA and the [[National Policing Improvement Agency]] started in anticipation of the Agency's abolition.<ref>[[Serious Crime Act 2007]], s.74/ Schs.8-9</ref><ref name="comm">Serious Crime Act 2007 (Commencement No.1) Order 2008, [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080219_en_1 SI 2008/219] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413141141/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080219_en_1 |date=April 13, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="comm2">Crime Act 2007 (Commencement No.2 and Transitional and Transitory Provisions and Savings) Order 2008, [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080755_en_1 SI 2008/755] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415152215/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080755_en_1 |date=April 15, 2008 }}</ref> The agency ceased to exist on 1 April 2008.<ref>Assets Recovery Agency (Abolition) Order 2008, [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080575_en_1 SI 2008/575] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311172558/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080575_en_1 |date=March 11, 2008 }}</ref>

==Background==
The setting up of the ARA was a key aspect of the POCA, which the Government intended to take the profit out of crime, aiming to dismantle and disrupt [[organised crime]] gangs by confiscating the financial proceeds of criminal acts. It brings together previous legislation, such as the [[Drug Trafficking Act 1994]] and Part VI of the [[Criminal Justice Act 1988]], with the changes recommended in a comprehensive report of a study conducted by the [[Performance and Innovation Unit]] of the [[Cabinet Office]] in 2000.

POCA strengthened the legislation relating to seizures of cash, [[money laundering]], investigatory powers, and restraint and confiscation procedures. Previously, only profits from certain crimes, such as [[drug trafficking]], were liable to confiscation.

The Agency had three strategic aims:
* To disrupt organised criminal enterprises through the recovery of criminal assets, thereby alleviating the effects of crime on communities.
* To promote the use of financial investigation as an integral part of criminal investigation, within and outside the Agency, domestically and internationally, through training and continuing professional development.
* To operate the Agency in accordance with its vision and values.

==Powers==
The powers of the ARA were mostly limited to [[England and Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]], although its taxation powers extended to [[Scotland]]. Its main offices were in [[London]], with a second office [[Belfast]].  In Northern Ireland, the Director consulted with the [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]].  In [[Scotland]], civil recovery was achieved through the Civil Recovery Unit of the [[Scottish Government]].

The functions of the ARA were categorised into four types:
*Confiscation proceedings;
*Civil recovery proceedings;
*Taxation of income or gains which are suspected of being derived from criminal activities;
*Control and supervision of the training of financial investigators in the UK.

==Director==
The ARA was headed by a Director, the first of whom was [[Jane Earl]]. Alan McQuillan, a former Assistant Chief Constable in the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary|R.U.C.]], was appointed as the new director in 2007. The Director had to carry out his statutory functions with a view to the reduction of crime. The Director reported to the [[Home Secretary]], but was operationally independent.

By 2005, it had 180 staff, and an annual budget of £15.5m, but it recovered only £4.6m.  It had more success in freezing criminal's assets, with £68.45m frozen in June 2006, but found its actions were frustrated by lengthy and expensive court cases.

==See also==
*[[Departments of the United Kingdom Government]]
*[[Asset forfeiture]]
*[[Criminal Assets Bureau]]
*[[British Police]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{ cite web | url=http://www.assetsrecovery.gov.uk/ | title=Assets Recovery Agency | year=2005 | accessdate=2008-03-23 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080317113545/http://www.assetsrecovery.gov.uk/| archivedate= 17 March 2008 | url-status= live}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Defunct law enforcement agencies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 2003]]
[[Category:Government agencies disestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:Asset forfeiture]]
[[Category:2003 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:2008 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]