Written question asked by Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 January 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 29 January 2018 (named day). It was answered by Mel Stride (Conservative) on Monday, 29 January 2018 on behalf of the Treasury.

Export Control Act 2002: Arrests

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many arrests have been made under the provisions of the Export Control Act 2002 in each year since that Act came into effect; how many charging decisions have been received on such breaches from the CPS; on what dates such decisions were received; and how many criminal convictions have resulted from each such charging decision.

Answer: Information on HMRC enforcement outcomes is published in the Strategic Export Controls Annual Reports which are available on the gov.uk. Website. The specific information requested is not readily available. HMRC takes breaches of strategic export controls very seriously but does not view a criminal prosecution as the only successful law enforcement outcome in all cases. There are several other options they can and regularly do exercise; these include building awareness, sending warning letters, issuing compound penalties and seizure or disruption actions.

Secondary information