UK Act of Parliament
2015
United Kingdom
Serious Crime Act 2015
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
16 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
Penalty landscape
3 of 16 obligations carry imprisonment (5 years). 9 carry different penalties and 4 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 12
Plus 4 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — Proceeds of crime
Orders for securing compliance with confiscation order
3 months imprisonment- Breach of a compliance order related to confiscation Any Person
Browse 39 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Determination of extent of defendant's interest in property
Provision of information
Appeals
Enforcement receivers
Time for payment
Confiscation and victim surcharge orders
Orders for securing compliance with confiscation order
Variation or discharge
Absconding defendants
Default sentences
Conditions for exercise of restraint order powers
Continuation of restraint order after quashed conviction
Conditions for exercise of search and seizure powers
Seized money etc
Restitution order and victim surcharge
Compliance orders: appeals by prosecutor
Accused persons unlawfully at large
Enforcement of confiscation orders
Conditions for exercise of restraint order powers
Continuation of restraint order after conviction quashed or verdict set aside
Conditions for exercise of search and seizure powers
Prohibitory property orders: PPO receivers
Determination of extent of defendant's interest in property
Provision of information
Appeals
Enforcement receivers
Time for payment
Orders for securing compliance with confiscation order
Variation or discharge
Absconding defendants
Default sentences
Conditions for exercise of restraint order powers
Continuation of restraint order after quashed conviction
Conditions for exercise of search and seizure powers
Seized money etc
Exemption from civil liability for money-laundering disclosures
Confiscation investigations
External orders and investigations: meaning of “obtaining property”
Confiscation orders by magistrates' courts
Part 2 — Computer misuse
Unauthorised acts causing, or creating risk of, serious damage
life imprisonment- Carry out unauthorised computer act causing serious damage Any Person
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 3 — Organised, serious and gang-related crime
Offence of participating in activities of organised crime group
5 years imprisonment- Participate in organised crime group activities Any Person
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Extension of Part 1 of Serious Crime Act 2007 to Scotland
Serious crime prevention orders: meaning of “serious offence”
Powers of Crown Court to replace orders on breach
Extension of order where person charged
Serious crime prevention orders and financial reporting etc
Injunctions to prevent gang-related violence and drug-dealing activity
Part 4 — Seizure and forfeiture of drug-cutting agents
Execution of search and seizure warrants
Fine up to £1,000- Obstruct police or customs officer executing a search warrant Any Person
Notice to be given where substances seized
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Officers must provide written notice of seized substances Statutory regulator
Forfeiture and disposal, or return, of seized substances
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Magistrates' Court must order return of seized substances if not drug-related Tribunal / Court
Return of substance to person entitled to it, or disposal if return impracticable
Unlimited fineOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Police or customs must return seized substances or dispose of them Statutory regulator
Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Applications for search and seizure warrants
Further provisions about search and seizure warrants
Seizure of substances under search and seizure warrant
Seizure of substances without search and seizure warrant
Containers
Initial retention of seized substances
Continued retention or return of seized substances
Appeal against decision under section 61
Compensation
Interpretation etc
Part 5 — Protection of children and others
Possession of paedophile manual
3 years imprisonment- Possess paedophile manual Any Person
Anonymity for victims of female genital mutilation
Unlimited fine- Publish identifying information of an FGM victim Any Person
Offence of failing to protect girl from risk of genital mutilation
7 years imprisonment- Fail to protect a girl from the risk of genital mutilation Any Person
Female genital mutilation protection orders
5 years imprisonment- Breach a female genital mutilation protection order Any Person
Duty to notify police of female genital mutilation
- Notify the police if you discover FGM on a girl under 18 Any Person
Offences under section 75A committed outside the United Kingdom
5 years imprisonment- Commit strangulation or suffocation offences outside the UK Any Person
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Child cruelty offence
Sexual communication with a child
Child sexual exploitation
Offence of female genital mutilation: extra-territorial acts
Guidance about female genital mutilation
Strangulation or suffocation
Controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship
Offences under section 76 committed outside the United Kingdom
Guidance about investigation of offences under section 76
Part 6 — Miscellaneous and general
Knives and offensive weapons in prisons
4 years imprisonment- Unauthorised possession of a knife or weapon in a prison Any Person
Throwing articles into prisons
2 years imprisonment- Throw articles into prison without authorisation Any Person
Termination of pregnancy on grounds of sex of foetus
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must assess and plan against sex-selective abortion Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Prevention or restriction of use of communication devices by prisoners etc
Prevention or restriction of use of communication devices for drug dealing
Preparation or training abroad for terrorism
Approval of draft decisions under Article 352 of TFEU relating to serious crime
Codes of practice about investigatory powers: journalistic sources
Minor and consequential amendments
Transitional and saving provisions
Extent
Commencement
Short title
Schedules
Browse 4 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Home Office
PrimaryGovernment department responsible for immigration, security, and law and order. Administers UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), issues sponsor licences for employers hiring …
Police Forces
Enforce criminal law including licensing conditions (e.g. alcohol, entertainment), knife sales restrictions, and age-restricted product sales. Work with trading standards on enforcement …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.