ABSTRACT
Unexplained wealth orders (UWOs) were introduced in the United Kingdom under the Criminal Finances Act 2017. This chapter attempts to find out whether UWOs enhance the effectiveness of the UK anti-money laundering regime. The author’s previous research – conducted prior to the enactment of the 2017 Act – found that the law and practice relating to money laundering do not effectively disrupt money laundering. The focus in this chapter is whether UWOs could better enhance the effectiveness of the anti-money laundering regime. As this study is primarily exploratory research, this chapter adopts a doctrinal method. Thus this chapter exploits relevant primary and secondary sources to contribute to the debate about improving the efficiency of the anti-money laundering regime in the United Kingdom.
