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ARTICLE · 10 SEPTEMBER 2024

What Is An Account Freezing Order?

Gherson
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The article explains Account Freezing Orders (AFrO), which freeze funds suspected to be linked to crime. It details the legal process, including how to challenge AFrOs and Account Forfeiture Orders (AFOs), and emphasizes the importance of seeking expert legal advice.

United KingdomCriminal Law
Gherson  
Gherson  

This blog will explain what an account freezing order is before outlining potential steps to respond effectively to an account freezing order.

An Account Freezing Order ("AFrO") is an order made by a Court freezing funds in a bank or building society account. An AFrO is, therefore, made by a Magistrates' Court (the "Court"). The Court will make the AFrO if a senior officer at a relevant agency (including the Serious Fraud Office, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, the National Crime Agency or the Police) can persuade the Court that funds in the relevant account are:

  • the proceeds of crime (either within or outside the UK), or
  • intended for use in criminal conduct.

Reasonable grounds to suspect that the funds are the proceeds of crime

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