Moneylaundering And Environment

One of the fundamental principles underlying the environmental policy of the European Community is that "the polluter should pay". An extension of the public policy principle that no one should profit from their crime, whether it be environmental or otherwise, is contained in the recent amendments to the Criminal Justice Act 1988. This legislation and the recently implemented Moneylaundering Regulations are aimed at preventing people from laundering the proceeds of crime, and place a duty upon solicitors and other professional advisers to obtain proof of identity of all new clients, whether corporate or personal, and to keep records of that evidence of identification.

Mike Renger, Partner, Environment Department.