Did you catch our poll on Tuesday?
We asked, ‘what is the main purpose of an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO)?’ 54% of you correctly identified that UWOs ‘require individuals to explain the source of their wealth’ ✔️
So, what is an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO)?
Introduced in 2018 as part of the Criminal Finances Act, UWOs are a powerful civil investigative tool that allow law enforcement to question how individuals acquired assets that appear disproportionate to their known income.
When suspicious assets are identified, agencies like the Serious Fraud Office can apply to the High Court for a UWO. These orders help build evidence that can later support civil recovery under the Proceeds of Crime Act, creating immediate freezing effects on suspicious assets while investigations proceed.
Want to learn more? Hear from SFO Case Controller Read More