Increased compelled powers for the UK Serious Fraud Office

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023 but it was on 15 January 2024 that section 211 came into effect, which expands the scope of the Serious Fraud Office's powers to compel individuals to provide documents and information. Mark Jones and Henry Watkinson of Payne Hicks Beach examine the change.

Mark Jones (+44 (0)20 7693 5875, www.phb.co.uk/profile/mark-jones/) is a partner and Henry Watkinson (+44 (0) 20 7465 4369, www.phb.co.uk/profile/henry-watkinson/) an associate at Payne Hicks Beach.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023 but it was on 15 January 2024 that section 211 came into effect, which expands the scope of the Serious Fraud Office's (SFO) powers to compel individuals to provide documents and information. Mark Jones and Henry Watkinson of Payne Hicks Beach examine the change.