Quentin Hunt appeared before Southwark Crown Court representing a limited company in respect of Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (“POCA”) proceedings for breach of a planning enforcement notice under s179 of the Town and County Planning Act 1990. Quentin had not acted for the company previously. The company had been convicted of letting a large number of properties in the London Bridge area contrary to the terms of a planning enforcement notice. 

The prosecution in the case, the London Borough of Southwark, were seeking a large confiscation order. Quentin was instructed very close to the date of the confiscation hearing and was initially successful in persuading the Court to grant an adjournment in proceedings to allow him to examine the case in detail. Following consideration of all the materials Quentin went ‘on the offensive’ on behalf of his client and sought to argue that the POCA proceedings were an abuse of process of the Court. As such Quentin submitted a large body of documentation to the Court and a skeleton argument in support of his application.

On the day of the abuse of process application the prosecution in the case agreed to negotiate the sums sought and consequentially negotiations were conducted at Court. Due to a tough and uncompromising stance by Quentin on behalf of his client he was able to persuade the Prosecution to agree to a reduction in the proposed order of over £600,000. A fantastic result for Quentin’s client.

Quentin Hunt is a Criminal Barrister who specialised in planning enforcement prosecutions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. If you find yourself in need of assistance in such cases, you may contact Quentin for a no obligation discussion about your case.