Operational Policing
Getting Assistance from the United Kingdom
Here are some basic guidelines and contact information for those needing assistance in the UK.
If you have questions about how to make a request to any part of the UK, read part one of the mutual legal assistance guidelines (6th edition).
There is also a search warrant template that you can use to request a search be carried out in England and Wales.
MLA guidelines
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mutual legal assistance guidelines (including search warrant proforma)
Where to send your request
Judicial authorities, prosecuting authorities and central authorities may send requests directly to one of these authorities:
For assistance in England and Wales and Northern Ireland
UK Central Authority
5th Floor Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Fax: +44 20 7035 6985
Telephone: +44 20 7035 4040
For assistance in Scotland
International Co-operation Unit
Crown Office
25 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LA
Tel: +44 131 243 8152
Fax:+44 131 243 8153
Revenue and customs matters
HM Customs and Excise merged with the Inland Revenue on 18 April 2005 to form one new government department: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Matters concerning direct tax (e.g. income tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax, National Insurance contributions) must still be sent to HMRC via the UK Central Authority). However, MLA requests for evidence in relation to the following offences may now be sent directly to HMRC. HMRC will execute requests for the following offences:
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indirect taxation (e.g. value added tax on goods and services)
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alcohol and tobacco smuggling
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evasion of duties (excise fraud)
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importation and exportation offences (e.g. drug trafficking; arms trafficking; smuggling of protected animal and plant species; smuggling of pornography; smuggling of counterfeit goods and other offences relating to customs prohibitions and restrictions and customs duties).
Requests for service of process related to such offences that are not dealt with by HMRC and remain within the remit of the UKCA.
For more information
For assistance with these matters, contact:
Ms Sue Taylor
Room 2/74
100 Parliament Street
London
SW1A 2BQ
Tel: +44 207 147 3834/42
Fax: +44 207 147 0433
