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MAKING A NCA REGULATED SECTOR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY REPORT (SAR)
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When do I submit a SAR to NCA?
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 expanded, reformed and consolidated the UK's
criminal money laundering offences. Most of the offences under the Act apply to
all individuals and businesses in the UK, however, some apply only to those
doing business in the 'regulated sector'. A SAR should be made as soon as the
knowledge or suspicion that criminal proceeds exist has arisen, especially if
consent may be required, or at the earliest opportunity thereafter.
How do I submit my suspicion to NCA?
NCA's preferred method is for reporters to submit their suspicion in the NCA
Suspicious Activity Report Format. NCA prefers these forms to be submitted
electronically (see below) but hardcopy versions of the forms (including
Limited Intelligence Value Reports) can be found on the NCA website or obtained
directly from NCA. These can then be posted to the address below. Only hardcopy
Consent requests should be faxed to 020 7238 8286 and do not need to be posted
as well.
Electronic Reporting
Those organisations that currently use the Encrypted Bulk File submission
system should continue to submit reports electronically, using the existing
reporting format. Any enquiries should be directed to the UKFIU on 0207 238
2888
Please do not email completed disclosures to NCA without encryption.
SAR Online, this web based reporting facility, has been designed to facilitate
the secure and efficient completion and submission of SARs. Please refer to the
facilities as described on the SAR Online home page
https://www.ukciu.gov.uk/saronline.aspx
and follow the relevant guidance and Help. If SAR Online does not suit your
current needs, but you wish to report using electronic means, please contact
the UKFIU on 0207 238 8282.
Hardcopy reporting
Any reporter choosing not to use one of the electronic reporting methods is
advised to obtain a copy of the NCA Preferred Form. Those wishing to complete
reports on their own computer should download the form(s) from the NCA website.
Alternatively, to request versions of the forms (for completion by hand) and
the Guidance on completing the form, please telephone 020 7238 8282 (please
select the appropriate telephone option).
Please do not complete the version of the Form downloaded from the Internet by
hand as the misreading of handwriting increases the potential for errors when
disclosures are keyed onto the NCA system.
Hardcopy reports should be sent to: UK FIU, PO Box 8000, London SE11 5EN.
If you currently submit by post but would like to submit electronically, please
contact the UKFIU on 0207 238 8282.
Source Registration
Confidentiality is something that NCA takes seriously and as such we are keen
to create an environment within which the reporters and NCA can communicate
securely. There are many reporters that share similar or identical names with
others throughout the country. Therefore, it is important that source
registration forms are completed with as many details as possible and, in the
case of hard copy reporting, sent in with the first SAR. If any of the details
change, a subsequent source registration form should be sent as soon as
possible to NCA marked as an update to the original record.
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What information should a SAR contain?
Guide to completing the NCA disclosure form
If you are not completing the form using one of the electronic methods outlined
above, the form should be completed on the computer-generated template, which
is available to download from the NCA website, but if this is not possible it
should be typed onto a paper copy. A number of fields within the
computer-generated template can be completed by selecting options from dropdown
menus. The guidance notes explain what information is required in the Standard
form template and are to be read in conjunction with the form itself.
It is important that the relevant information is completed within the
appropriate fields and not merely placed within the 'Reasons for Suspicion'
field.
There are a number of fields that should be completed in order for a report to
be accepted by NCA. These fields are: Your Ref (even if none), Disclosure Type,
New or Update, Source ID, Source Outlet ID, Today's Date, (Main Subject)
Surname or Company Name and Reasons for Suspicion'. Following this, according
to the additional information you have available, a number of fields within
each section must be completed if you are filling in that section and are
identified below in bold italics.
For a more detailed explanation of the template itself, please contact the NCA
SAR Team (contact details at end of notes).
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Acknowledgement Letters
NCA will not acknowledge any SAR sent by fax, post, or by letter. Electronic
submissions through money.web, bulk submission or through the SAR Online
system, will receive an acknowledgment which will include an automatically
generated ELMER reference number.
If you have submitted a consent request, the Consent Team will contact you
directly with the decision by telephone within the seven day notice period, and
then post the appropriate letter to you as confirmation.
If you have any queries relating to acknowledgments please write to the SAR
Team at UKFIU, PO BOX 8000, London, SE11 5EN.
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