Part of Modern Slavery Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 10:00 am ar 9 Medi 2014.
There was some discussion in the Joint Committee about when someone’s assets could be frozen. There was some good evidence about freezing assets on suspicion, which happened in Italy when it passed the anti-Mafia Act. As soon as someone was suspected of being involved in a Mafia scheme, all their assets were frozen before they were taken to court or charged; millions of pounds were gathered that would be spirited away if they waited until that person was charged. That was one of the reasons why the Mafia war was successful. Have the Government reached a view on whether they would, in fact, take the same line in freezing assets of suspected traffickers before they are even charged?