Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Mutual legal assistance definition

What does Mutual legal assistance mean? Mutual legal assistance (MLA) is cross‑border co‑operation where one state asks another to obtain and use evidence, serve process, or carry out investigatory or enforcement steps for court proceedings, most often in criminal cases (extradition is separate). The term is descriptive rather than a single statutory definition; assistance is provided under treaties and domestic legislation and, in civil matters, through judicial comity. Core features include a legal basis (treaty or statute), routing via central authorities, and conditions such as dual criminality, necessity/proportionality, confidentiality/speciality, and respect for local admissibility and privilege. Typical MLA requests seek witness evidence, banking and communications records, production...

POCA 2002: external investigations, requests and orders—ss 444–445 powers and UK subordinate legislation (including cryptoasset reforms)

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Practice notes

Mutual legal assistance (MLA) is the process through which states support one another with investigative and Enforcement measures in criminal inquiries and proceedings. It covers assistance at both the investigative stage and during proceedings.

Many MLA treaties (MLAT) authorise assistance to restrain and confiscate the proceeds of crime. The domestic confiscation/restraint frameworks are set out in Parts 2–4 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA 2002), while POCA 2002, Pt 11 sets the regime for responding to incoming requests.

For more information on MLA generally, see Practice Notes:

Mutual legal assistance (MLA)
Mutual legal assistance—forms of assistance

For detailed information on MLA in specific contexts, see Practice Notes:

Mutual legal assistance—restraint and confiscation
Mutual legal assistance—civil recovery

POCA 2002 powers to create secondary legislation

Sections 444 and 445 of POCA 2002 confer power to make secondary legislation for the purpose of giving effect to requests from overseas authorities for assistance with identifying, recovering, investigating, freezing, confiscating and forfeiting, etc, the proceeds of crime...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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