Tag Archives: NCA

The new crimino-normal

Posted on May 20, 2020 by

Much as I try to ignore it – otherwise it absorbs our every waking moment, and some of our nightmares – I do occasionally find that there is an interesting nexus between the coronavirus and money laundering.  And this week … Continue reading →

Posted in AML, Money laundering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

No, no, no to UWO, UWO, UWO

Posted on April 29, 2020 by

Most of us in the world of AML have welcomed the advent of the Unexplained Wealth Order – the court order introduced by the Criminal Finances Act 2017, which can be served to compel either a PEP or someone involved … Continue reading →

Posted in AML, Bribery and corruption, Money laundering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The topic will be sin and that’s what I’m ag’in

Posted on April 15, 2020 by

At the beginning of April 2020 the UK’s National Crime Agency published its “National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2020”.  Of course, much of this report looks at the damage being done by criminals but – as instructed … Continue reading →

Posted in Fraud, Money laundering | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The special joy of damage joy

Posted on January 15, 2020 by

I remember the first time I was told what schadenfreude means – pleasure derived from another’s misfortune.  I quickly realised what an essential component of life it is, and thought how odd it is that only the Germans have seen … Continue reading →

Posted in AML, Due diligence, Money laundering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The stink of money laundering

Posted on October 9, 2019 by

Have you ever fibbed slightly about what you do for a living (that you work in AML) in order to avoid yet another tedious story about someone’s grandma who was with her bank for 312 years and STILL had to … Continue reading →

Posted in AML, Money laundering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Inside the tent but still p***ing in

Posted on May 8, 2019 by

In my guise as a magistrate I have become familiar with a thrilling document called the “Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines”.  It’s an entirely public, well, publication, as justice is meant to be transparent and accessible to all.  And if you … Continue reading →

Posted in AML, Money laundering, Organised crime | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The plain un-SAR-nished truth

Posted on March 6, 2019 by

Remember when Hugh Grant was PM in “Love Actually” and he found out that his tea-lady’s ex-boyfriend had been nasty to her and offered to have the scoundrel assassinated by the “absolutely charming” SAS?  “Ruthless trained killers are just a … Continue reading →

Posted in AML, Money laundering, Organised crime, Supervision | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Brexit bonanza for baddies

Posted on February 13, 2019 by

You have probably guessed from recent tear-stained posts that I am not a fan of Brexit.  Having lived an international life surrounded – very happily – by people from all over the world, I rear up at the thought of … Continue reading →

Posted in AML, Legislation, Money laundering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Is that wig made of wool or wolf?

Posted on September 24, 2018 by

A phrase I use quite often in training is, “You’d think so, wouldn’t you?”.  As in, “If the payment is coming to us from another regulated bank, won’t they have done all the checks?”  Or, “Given that CDD checks have … Continue reading →

Posted in AML, Due diligence, Money laundering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Money launder-bling

Posted on September 19, 2018 by

Working in Guernsey this week, I was talking to a client about the concept of the High Value Dealer (under local legislation, those who “[trade] in goods where there is received… a payment or payments in cash of at least … Continue reading →

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