Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Terrorism definition

What does Terrorism mean? In legal practice, terrorism describes the use or threat of serious harmful acts intended to influence government or intimidate the public, carried out for a political, religious, racial or ideological cause. In the UK, the statutory definition in the Terrorism Act 2000 covers action involving serious violence, serious damage to property, endangering life, creating a serious risk to public health or safety, or serious interference with or disruption of an electronic system; it has extra‑territorial reach. The concept underpins offences of preparation, encouragement, membership and support of proscribed organisations, terrorist financing and asset‑freezing, and powers such as arrest, detention and...

Submitting SARs and obtaining a defence (DAML) under POCA/TA: a practical guide for UK legal practitioners

Published by a LexisNexis Risk & Compliance expert

Practice notes

Practice Note

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA 2002) and the Terrorism Act 2000 (TA 2000), you must report knowledge or suspicions of Money laundering and terrorist financing to the National Crime Agency (NCA) by submitting a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR). Failure to report attracts significant criminal penalties.

A SAR can be:

an internal SAR to the organisation’s nominated officer, or
an external SAR to the NCA

This Practice Note sets out practical guidance for the nominated officer on making an external SAR to the NCA and on obtaining a defence or consent to carry out a prohibited act (that is, to proceed with a matter you know or suspect involves money laundering or terrorist financing).

See also Practice Note: Reporting suspicions of money laundering and terrorist financing for more detailed information on the law governing the SARs regime.

This guidance is of general application. You should confirm whether the law or your regulatory body imposes any additional, sector‑specific requirements when making a SAR and when seeking a defence or consent...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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