Proceeds of Crime Bill
9:30 am
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield, Conservative)
I accept that there is a welcome safeguard in subsection (6), and I am glad of it. Nevertheless, it is pointless for Parliament to set up a structure that is always in danger of falling into the ``serious risk of injustice'' category because of the way in which it is defined. We are not intended to set up such structures; nor is the Minister.
There are difficulties with a reverse burden of proof. It requires a defendant to prove the legitimate acquisition of assets that were gained before the period in which he is under a legal obligation to keep records about those assets. I am not saying that the amendment provides the solution. Perhaps, as a result of our discussion, we shall think again and return to the subject on Report. I welcome this discussion, and it would be helpful if the Minister were either to persuade me that there is no problem, or to acknowledge that there is, and say that he will think about it.