British Overseas Territories commit to publishing further information on company ownership in major anti-corruption move

News story

UK Government publishes draft legislation setting out minimum it expects to see from British Overseas Territories when they publish the owners of companies registered there.

The UK Government has published draft legislation today which sets out the minimum it expects to see from British Overseas Territories when they publish the owners of companies registered there.

The legislation – which is supported by Overseas Territories themselves – will improve corporate transparency and deter illicit finance.

The introduction of publicly accessible registers of who controls companies in their jurisdiction shows the Overseas Territories’ commitment to corporate transparency.

The registers will mean that members of the public will be able to look up who owns a company if it is registered in an Overseas Territory.

The Government expects all Overseas Territories to have these registers in place by the end of 2023.

Welcoming the move in a Written Ministerial Statement, Minister for the European Neighbourhood and Americas, Wendy Morton, said:

Unanimous action from all the Overseas Territories demonstrates their commitment to tackle flows of illicit finance.

By introducing publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership, the Overseas Territories are showing that they are responsible jurisdictions and a collaborative partner to the UK.

The UK Government is spearheading an international campaign to encourage more countries to commit to publicly accessible registers by 2023.

All inhabited Overseas Territories, including the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands, have announced their intentions to introduce publicly accessible registers. Gibraltar has already introduced its register.

These announcements demonstrate that the Overseas Territories are responding positively to the changing UK, EU and global norms on corporate transparency. They also underscores their continued contribution to the fight to tackle international illicit finance.

The Territories already share beneficial ownership information on a private basis with UK Law Enforcement Agencies, which have supported investigations.

Further Information:

  • The draft legislation sets out what the UK Government expects to see when the Overseas Territories introduce their registers. A Written Ministerial Statement was laid today and can be viewed here.
  • The Government is required to prepare this draft legislation by the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018; and we are publishing it to show the progress made. We want to be upfront and open about what we want to see in the Overseas Territories’ registers.
  • The draft legislation has been published on Gov.UK with a covering note.

Published 14 December 2020



Business hub takes shape at Bus Station



Civil news: launch of new CCMS tool for bulk claim upload issues

News story

A new troubleshooting workbook has been launched to help you with bulk claim upload problems in the Client and Cost Management System.

Hands typing on keyboard overlaid by digital graphic

A workbook is now available to help you quickly identify common problems when making bulk claim uploads in the Client and Cost Management System (CCMS).

How does it work?

If you are having problems with bulk claim uploads you will receive an ‘execution report’ with an error code.

If you enter the error code into the new ‘XML-Fixer’ workbook you will see an explanation of the issue and what to do next.

This should help you to manage your issue without needing to contact our online support team.

In specific cases, you may be prompted to input some further details on what you are trying to claim.

You will then be given specific advice on steps to take to resolve your issues. You may also be directed to an LAA team for further assistance.

Where do I find the workbook?

The ‘XML-Fixer’ workbook is available for download on our new training and support website.

Feedback

We would welcome email feedback on your experiences using the ‘XML- Fixer’ workbook: Online-Support@justice.gov.uk

Further information

Legal aid learning website: bulk claim upload issues – to download the new ‘XML-Fixer’

Online-Support@justice.gov.uk – to give us your feedback on the new ‘XML-Fixer’ workbook

Published 14 December 2020



Crime news: duty rota guidance changes because of COVID-19

Police patrol motorcyclist

New guidance setting out the arrangements because of COVID-19 is available for providers preparing to submit CRM12 applications for slots on the April 2021 rotas.

Applications will need to be made by 11.59pm on 11 January 2021. The police station and court duty rotas will run for the usual 6 months.

The guidance covers both submission arrangements and criminal litigation accreditation.

COVID-19 and CRM12 submissions

CRM12 submissions to add duty solicitors can be made where there is a reasonable expectation engaged requirements for duty solicitors will be met from 1 April. This is subject to the prevailing Public Health England or Public Health Wales guidance.

We understand that some existing duty solicitors are currently unable to meet the engaged requirements because of COVID-19.

However, we do not expect you to remove their names where you reasonably expect they will be able to meet these requirements from 1 April 2021. Again, this is subject to the prevailing public health guidance.

Engaged requirements include 14 hours per week criminal defence work and a minimum number of police station and court attendances during the rota period.

Criminal litigation accreditation

Providers submitting a CRM12 for a new duty solicitor will need to provide a copy of their Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme (CLAS) certificate. But we are making exceptional arrangements for new duty solicitors completing their CLAS accreditation in January 2021.

Providers may submit a CRM12 for these duty solicitor candidates for the 11 January 2021 deadline, but will have up to 12 February 2021 to submit the CLAS certificate.

Guidance on the process that will be followed for these applications is set out in the additional guidance document on April 2021 duty rotas. This is published alongside the CRM12 form.

Further information

CRM12: duty solicitor application when moving firm – form

Email crm12@justice.gov.uk to submit CRM12 applications by 11 January 2021

Duty solicitors: rotas, information and guidance – for the standard guidance on CRM12s for April 2021 rotas

Published 14 December 2020
Last updated 15 December 2020 + show all updates

  1. Correct date added – these requirements from 1 April 2021

  2. First published.



SIA suspends over 130 licences and seeks retraining after investigating training fraud

Last month, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) suspended more than 130 SIA licences as an ongoing criminal investigation revealed that some licence-holders may not have been awarded their qualifications legitimately.

Individuals are licensed by the SIA to work in seven different sectors, including door supervision, security guarding, and close protection. Licence applicants must complete sector-specific qualifications to become licensed.

The SIA does not deliver training but sets and approves training standards; this is done by creating and publishing Specifications for Learning and Qualifications. SIA-endorsed awarding organisations maintain standards through the approval and monitoring of training providers who deliver the qualifications to people seeking to be licensed to work in the private security industry.

As part of a current SIA investigation, an awarding organisation contacted learners of a particular training provider requesting they verify their qualifications. The SIA also sent all affected learners a message via their online licensing system. They were asked to take action and those who failed to do so have had their licences suspended.

Nicholas Banks, the SIA’s Head of Licensing and Service Delivery explains why credible qualifications are so important. He said:

We must ensure that all licence holders can carry out their roles professionally and safely. If we find evidence that there is any doubt about the legitimacy of licence-linked training, we will take robust action to ensure public safety. This can include the suspension or revocation of licences. We may also place conditions on the licence-holder to engage with an awarding organisation and retake qualifications to retain a licence. If they fail to do this, they risk having their application withdrawn or losing their licence.

We want to be proactive and will take corrective action on qualifications as we recognise our role in upholding the standards of the private security industry.

At the core of the SIA’s private security regulation is ensuring security officers are correctly trained to carry out their roles. Each year, at least 80,000 individuals take licence-linked qualifications, providing the skills to work in a variety of challenging roles as security operatives across the UK.

The SIA continues to investigate and works with awarding organisations to verify qualifications and provide assurance that qualifications remain valid. In some limited cases, when the SIA becomes aware of criminal activity associated to training, it will investigate and intervene particularly where we believe there is criminal intent.

Offences can be committed in a variety of different ways. In some cases, learners believed their training course was genuine, but fell victim to improper training. In other cases, learners may have known the training was fraudulent.

As the investigations continue, the SIA’s Criminal Investigations Manager, Nathan Salmon said:

We will work with awarding organisations to limit training criminality. The SIA cannot comment further on individual licence holders or ongoing criminal investigations, although we will make resulting conviction information available.

Notes to Editors:

Further information:

  • The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the United Kingdom, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Our main duties are: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities; and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.
  • For further information about the Security Industry Authority or to sign up for email updates visit www.gov.uk/sia. The SIA is also on Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and Twitter (SIAuk).
  • ​​​​​​Media enquiries only please contact: 0300 123 9869, media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk