Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Syria (Sanctions) (Overseas Territories) Order 2020 and comes into force immediately after both the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2020(2) and the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2020(3) have come into force in the United Kingdom.

(2) This Order extends to each British overseas territory listed in Schedule 1.

Extension of the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

2.  The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019(4) as amended from time to time extend to each British overseas territory listed in Schedule 1 with the modifications specified in Schedule 2.

Extension of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018

3.  Subject to the modification set out in paragraph (c), the following provisions of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 extend to each British overseas territory listed in Schedule 1 for the purposes of the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 as modified and extended to the territories by this Order—

(a)section 44 (protection for acts done for purposes of compliance);

(b)section 52(3) (Crown application);

(c)section 53 (saving for prerogative powers), except that, in its application to a particular British overseas territory, the reference in subsection (1) of that section to the United Kingdom is to be read as a reference to that territory.

Article 1(2)

SCHEDULE 1British overseas territories

Anguilla

British Antarctic Territory

British Indian Ocean Territory

Cayman Islands

Falkland Islands

Montserrat

Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands

St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in the Island of Cyprus

Turks and Caicos Islands

Virgin Islands

Article 2

SCHEDULE 2Modifications to be made in the extension of the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 to each British overseas territory listed in Schedule 1

1.  In regulation 1 (citation and commencement)—

(a)in the heading, omit “and commencement”;

(b)omit paragraphs (2) and (3).

2.  In regulation 2 (interpretation)—

(a)the existing text becomes paragraph (1);

(b)in that paragraph—

(i)in the appropriate places, insert the following definitions—

““aircraft” has the same meaning as it has in section 6(9) of the Act;”;

““authorised officer” means, in relation to the Territory—

““financial sanctions licence” means, in relation to the Territory, a licence issued by the Governor under regulation 61(1);”;

““the Governor” is to be read in accordance with regulation 4A;”;

““Her Majesty’s forces” does not include a force of any country, other than the United Kingdom, that is a member of the Commonwealth;”;

““ship” has the same meaning as it has in section 7(14) of the Act;”;

““territorial sea of the Territory” means the territorial sea as defined in an enactment applicable in the Territory or, in the absence of such an enactment, the territorial sea adjacent to the Territory;”;

““Territory aircraft” means, in relation to the Territory—

““Territory person” means, in relation to the Territory, a person who is—

““Territory ship” means, in relation to the Territory—

““vehicle” means a land transport vehicle.”;

(ii)omit the definitions of—

(aa)“the Commissioners”,

(bb)“Treasury licence”, and

(cc)“United Kingdom person”;

(c)after that paragraph insert—

“(2) In the application of these Regulations to a particular British overseas territory, the expression “the Territory” means that territory.”

3.  In regulation 3 (application of prohibitions and requirements outside the United Kingdom)—

(a)in the heading, for “United Kingdom” substitute “Territory”;

(b)in paragraphs (1) and (4), for “United Kingdom person” substitute “Territory person”;

(c)in paragraphs (1), (4) and (7), for “United Kingdom” substitute “Territory”;

(d)in paragraphs (2) and (5), after “in the territorial sea” insert “of the Territory”;

(e)in paragraphs (3) and (6), for “Treasury licence” substitute “financial sanctions licence”.

4.  In regulation 4 (purposes), for “the regulations contained in this instrument that are made under section 1 of the Act” substitute “these Regulations”.

5.  At the end of Part 1 (General), insert—

“Functions of the Governor

4A.—(1) In these Regulations, “the Governor” means, in relation to the Territory, the person holding or acting in the office of Governor of the Territory, or, if there is no such office, the officer for the time being administering the Territory.

(2) The Governor may, to such extent and subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Governor thinks proper, delegate or authorise the delegation of any of the Governor’s powers under these Regulations to any person, or class or description of persons, and any references in these Regulations to the Governor are to be construed accordingly.

(3) In the exercise of any power conferred on the Governor by these Regulations, the Governor is to act in their discretion.”

6.  Omit regulation 5 (power to designate persons) (including the heading).

7.  Omit regulation 6 (designation criteria) (including the heading).

8.  For regulation 8 (notification and publicity where designation power used), substitute—

“Requirement to publish a list of designated persons

8.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Governor must—

(a)publish a list of designated persons, and

(b)keep the list up to date.

(2) Where, in accordance with regulation 8 (notification and publicity where designation power used) (as it has effect in the United Kingdom) the Secretary of State is not required to publicise generally a designation, variation or revocation, the Governor must not include in the list under paragraph (1) any details of that designation, variation or revocation.

(3) The Governor may publish the list under paragraph (1) in any form the Governor considers appropriate, including by means of a website.

(4) For the purpose of this regulation, “designated person” means any person for the time being designated by the Secretary of State under regulation 5 (power to designate persons) (as it has effect in the United Kingdom).”

9.  In regulation 9 (confidential information in certain cases where designation power used)—

(a)in the heading, omit “where designation power used”;

(b)omit paragraph (1);

(c)in paragraph (2)(a), for “that is to be treated as confidential in accordance with paragraph (1)” substitute “which the Secretary of State has specified is to be treated as confidential under regulation 9(1) (as it has effect in the United Kingdom)”;

(d)in paragraph (7)—

(i)for “High Court (in Scotland, the Court of Session)” substitute “Supreme Court of the Territory”;

(ii)omit “(in Scotland, an interdict)”;

(e)at the end, insert—

“(9) In this regulation, “Supreme Court of the Territory” means—

(a)in relation to Anguilla, Montserrat and the Virgin Islands, the High Court of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court;

(b)in relation to the Cayman Islands, the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands;

(c)in relation to the British Antarctic Territory, the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Falkland Islands, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Supreme Court of that territory;

(d)in relation to the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in the Island of Cyprus, the Senior Judges’ Court of those Areas.”

10.  For regulation 10 (meaning of “designated person” in Chapter 1 of Part 3) substitute—

“10.  In this Part, a “designated person” means a person who is designated from time to time by the Secretary of State under regulation 5 (power to designate persons) (as it has effect in the United Kingdom) for the purposes of regulations 11 to 15 (asset-freeze etc.) (as they have effect in the United Kingdom).”

11.  In regulation 16 (UK credit or financial institutions: accounts and correspondent banking relationships etc)—

(a)in the heading, for “UK credit or financial institutions” substitute “Territory credit or financial institutions”;

(b)for “UK credit or financial institution”, in each place it occurs, substitute “Territory credit or financial institution”.

12.  In regulation 17 (opening of, or taking up of business by, a representative office, branch or subsidiary of Syrian credit or financial institution), for “United Kingdom”, in both places it occurs, substitute “Territory”.

13.  In regulation 18 (acquisition or extension of ownership interest by Syrian credit or financial institution), for “UK credit or financial institution” substitute “Territory credit or financial institution”.

14.  In regulation 23 (interpretation of Part 3)—

(a)in the definition of “branch”, for “UK credit or financial institution” substitute “Territory credit or financial institution”;

(b)for the definition of “UK credit or financial institution” substitute—

““Territory credit or financial institution”, in relation to the Territory, means—

(c)in paragraph (2), for “UK credit or financial institution” substitute “Territory credit or financial institution”.

15.  For regulation 24 (immigration) substitute—

“24.—(1) A person who is designated from time to time by the Secretary of State under regulation 5 (power to designate persons) (as it has effect in the United Kingdom) for the purposes of regulation 24 (immigration) (as it has effect in the United Kingdom) must not enter, transit or remain in the Territory.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a person who—

(a)belongs to the Territory, or

(b)in respect of the Sovereign Base Areas, is permitted to reside in the Sovereign Base Areas under the law applicable to the Sovereign Base Areas.

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a person if the application of that paragraph to that person would be contrary to the United Kingdom’s obligations under —

(a)the European Convention on Human Rights, or

(b)the Refugee Convention.

(4) Paragraph (1) is subject to regulation 68 (immigration directions).

(5) For the purposes of this regulation, a person (“P”) belongs to the Territory if—

(a)in respect of Anguilla, P is an Anguillian (within the meaning given to that term in the law of Anguilla);

(b)in respect of the Cayman Islands, P is a Caymanian (within the meaning given to that term in the law of the Cayman Islands);

(c)in respect of the Falkland Islands, P has Falkland Islands status (within the meaning given to that term in the law of the Falkland Islands);

(d)in respect of Montserrat, P is a Montserratian (within the meaning given to that term in the law of Montserrat);

(e)in respect of Pitcairn, P has the right of abode in Pitcairn under the law of Pitcairn;

(f)in respect of St Helena, P has St Helenian status (within the meaning given to that term in the law of St Helena);

(g)in respect of Tristan da Cunha, P has the right of abode in Tristan da Cunha under the law of Tristan da Cunha;

(h)in respect of the Turks and Caicos Islands, P is a Turks and Caicos Islander (within the meaning given to that term in the law of the Turks and Caicos Islands);

(i)in respect of the Virgin Islands, P belongs to the Virgin Islands (within the meaning given to that term in the law of the Virgin Islands).

(6) In this regulation—

“the European Convention on Human Rights” means the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms done at Rome on 4 November 1950 and the Protocols to the Convention(6);

“the Refugee Convention” means the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on 28 July 1951 and the Protocol to the Convention(7);

“Pitcairn” means Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands;

“the Sovereign Base Areas” means the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in the Island of Cyprus.”

16.  In regulation 27 (interpretation of other expressions used in Part 5)—

(a)for paragraph (1) substitute—

“(1) For the purposes of this Part—

(a)“export” means export from the Territory, and

(b)goods transported out of the Territory by aircraft or ship as stores within the meaning of CEMA (see section 1(1) and (4) of that Act) are to be regarded as exported.

(1A) Paragraphs 35 and 36 of Schedule 1 to the Act (trade sanctions) apply for the purpose of interpreting expressions in this Part.”;

(b)for paragraph (2) substitute—

“(2) In this Part, any reference to the Territory includes a reference to the territorial sea of the Territory.”

17.  In regulation 29 (export prohibition), at the end insert—

“(3) A person who contravenes a prohibition in paragraph (1) commits an offence, but it is a defence for a person charged with the offence of contravening paragraph (1) to show that the person did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that the export was to, or the goods were for use in, Syria (as the case may be).”

18.  In regulation 30 (supply and delivery prohibition), in paragraph (4) for “United Kingdom, the Isle of Man” substitute “Territory”.

19.  In regulation 35 (prohibitions relating to the associated provision of brokering services: non-UK activity)—

(a)in the heading, for “non-UK” substitute “non-Territory”;

(b)in paragraph (1), for “non-UK country”, in each place it occurs, substitute “non-Territory country”;

(c)for paragraph (4) substitute—

“(4) In this regulation—

“non-Territory country” means a country that is not the Territory;

“third country” means a country that is not the Territory or Syria.”

20.  In regulation 38 (transport of military goods, crude oil and petroleum products)—

(a)for “non-UK country”, in each place it occurs, substitute “non-Territory country”;

(b)for paragraph (6) substitute—

“(6) In this regulation—

“non-Territory country” means a country that is not the Territory;

“third country” means a country that is not the Territory or Syria.”

21.  In regulation 39 (transfer of military technology), for “United Kingdom”, in each place it occurs, substitute “Territory”.

22.  In regulation 40 (prohibitions relating to the associated provision of financial services and funds)—

(a)in paragraph (1), for “non-UK country”, in each place it occurs, substitute “non-Territory country”;

(b)in paragraph (1), for “United Kingdom”, in each place it occurs, substitute “Territory”.

23.  In regulation 41 (bank notes or coinage), in paragraph (5) for “United Kingdom, the Isle of Man” substitute “Territory”.

24.  In regulation 42 (goods prohibitions relating to gold, precious metals or diamonds)—

(a)in paragraph (3) for “non-UK country”, substitute “non-Territory country”;

(b)for paragraph (6) substitute—

“(6) In this regulation—

“non-Territory country” means a country that is not the Territory;

“third country” means a country that is not the Territory or Syria.”

25.  In regulation 45 (brokering services: non-UK activity relating to gold, precious metals or diamonds)—

(a)in the heading, for “non-UK” substitute “non-Territory”;

(b)in paragraph (1), for “non-UK country”, in each place it occurs, substitute “non-Territory country”;

(c)for paragraph (6) substitute—

“(6) In this regulation—

“non-Territory country” means a country that is not the Territory;

“third country” means a country that is not the Territory or Syria.”

26.  In regulation 46 (luxury goods), in paragraph (6) for “United Kingdom, the Isle of Man” substitute “Territory”.

27.  In regulation 47 (electricity production), in paragraph (6) for “United Kingdom, the Isle of Man” substitute “Territory”.

28.  In regulation 51 (movement of aircraft)—

(a)in paragraph (1) for “United Kingdom” substitute “Territory”;

(b)for paragraph (3) substitute—

“(3) The Secretary of State, or the Governor (as the case may be), may—

(a)refuse permission under article 135 of the ANO in respect of an aircraft falling within paragraph (1);

(b)revoke any permission granted under article 135 of the ANO in respect of an aircraft falling within paragraph (1).”;

(c)in paragraph (4), after “airport operator” insert “or air traffic control”;

(d)in paragraph (5)—

(i)for “Secretary of State” substitute “Governor”;

(ii)after “airport operator” insert “or air traffic control”;

(e)for paragraph (6) substitute—

“(6) In this regulation—

“air cargo services” means a service for the carriage by air of cargo, including mail and animals;

“air traffic control” means a person which provides any of the following services in the Territory—

(f)at the end, insert—

“(7) The Secretary of State may direct the Governor to exercise the Governor’s power under paragraph (5).”

29.  For regulation 52 (directions under regulation 51: supplementary) substitute—

“52.—(1) Where a direction is given under regulation 51(3)(b), to the extent that the direction conflicts with the requirements of article 12 of the ANO (revocation, suspension and variation of permissions, etc. granted under article 135 or article 137), those requirements are to be disregarded.

(2) Where a direction is given under regulation 51 which conflicts with a permission under article 135 of the ANO, the permission is to be disregarded.

(3) In so far as a direction under regulation 51 conflicts with any requirement in the applicable law of the Territory that corresponds to the requirements of section 93 of the Transport Act 2000(8) or of an order under section 94 of that Act, the direction is to be disregarded.

(4) In so far as a direction under regulation 51 conflicts with the requirements of any other relevant law applicable to the Territory, the requirements are to be disregarded.

(5) The Secretary of State may notify a person that the existence of a direction under regulation 51, any part of the content of the direction, or anything done under the direction, is to be treated as confidential.

(6) The Governor may notify a person that the existence of a direction issued by the Governor under regulation 51, any part of the content of the direction, or anything done under the direction, is to be treated as confidential.

(7) A person must not disclose any information if the Secretary of State or the Governor (as the case may be) notifies that person under paragraph (5) or (6) that the information is to be treated as confidential.

(8) For the purposes of this regulation, a “direction” under regulation 51 includes the refusal or revocation of permission under regulation 51(3).”

30.  In regulation 53 (offences)—

(a)in paragraph (3), for “Secretary of State” substitute “Secretary of State or the Governor”;

(b)in paragraph (4), for “regulation 52(6)” substitute “regulation 52(7)”.

31.  In regulation 54 (interpretation) in paragraph (1)—

(a)for the definition of “the ANO” substitute—

““the ANO” means the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2013(9);”;

(b)at the appropriate places, insert—

““airport” means the aggregate of the land, water, buildings and works comprised in an aerodrome within the meaning of article 3(1) of the ANO;”;

““airport operator”, in relation to the Territory, means a person in charge of the operation of an airport in the Territory;”.

32.  In regulation 55 (asset-freeze etc: exceptions from prohibitions)—

(a)omit paragraph (6);

(b)in paragraph (7), for the definition of “relevant institution” substitute—

““relevant institution”, in relation to the Territory, means a person domiciled in the Territory who would satisfy the threshold conditions for permission under Part 4A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000(10) if it had its registered office (or if it does not have one, its head office) in the United Kingdom.”

(c)omit paragraph (8).

33.  In regulation 56 (exceptions relating to insurance and reinsurance services), in paragraph (1), for “United Kingdom”, in each place it occurs, substitute “Territory”.

34.  In regulation 57 (exceptions relating to petroleum products)—

(a)in paragraph (2), for “UK funded person” substitute “UK or Territory funded person”;

(b)in paragraph (5) for “Secretary of State” substitute “Governor”;

(c)in paragraph (7), for the definition of “UK funded person” substitute—

““UK or Territory funded person” means any person that receives funding from any part of the Government of the United Kingdom or of the Territory for the purpose of providing a humanitarian assistance activity in Syria.”

35.  In regulation 59 (aircraft: exceptions from prohibitions), in paragraph (1), for “United Kingdom”, in each place it occurs, substitute “Territory”.

36.  For regulation 59A (exception for authorised conduct in a relevant country) substitute—

“Exceptions for authorised conduct outside the Territory

59A.—(1) Where a person’s conduct outside the Territory would, in the absence of this paragraph, contravene a prohibition in any of regulations 11 to 15 (asset-freeze etc.) or Chapters 2 to 5 of Part 5 (Trade), the prohibition is not contravened if the conduct is authorised by a licence issued under regulation 61 (Treasury licences) (as it has effect in the United Kingdom) or regulation 62 (trade licences) (as it has effect in the United Kingdom).

(2) Where a person’s conduct in a relevant country would, in the absence of this paragraph, contravene a prohibition in any of regulations 11 to 15 or Chapters 2 to 5 of Part 5 (“the relevant prohibition”), the relevant prohibition is not contravened if the conduct is authorised by a licence or other authorisation which is issued—

(a)under the law of the relevant country, and

(b)for the purpose of disapplying a prohibition in that jurisdiction which corresponds to the relevant prohibition.

(3) In this regulation—

“relevant country” means—

37.  For regulation 60 (exception for acts done for purposes of national security or prevention of serious crime), substitute—

“60.—(1) Where an act would, in the absence of this paragraph, be prohibited by regulation 9(2) (confidentiality) or any prohibition in Part 3 (Finance) or Part 5 (Trade), that prohibition does not apply to the act if the act is one which—

(a)a responsible officer has determined would be in the interests of—

(i)national security, or

(ii)the prevention or detection of serious crime in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, or

(b)the Governor, with the consent of the Secretary of State, has determined would be in the interests of the prevention or detection of serious crime in the Territory.

(2) Where, in the absence of this paragraph, a thing would be required to be done under or by virtue of a provision of Part 8 (Information and records) or Part 10 (Maritime enforcement), that requirement does not apply if—

(a)a responsible officer has determined that not doing the thing in question would be in the interests of—

(i)national security, or

(ii)the prevention or detection of serious crime in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, or

(b)the Governor, with the consent of the Secretary of State, has determined that not doing the thing in question would be in the interests of the prevention or detection of serious crime in the Territory.

(3) In this regulation, “responsible officer” means a person in the service of the Crown or holding office under the Crown in the United Kingdom, acting in the course of that person’s duty.”

38.  For regulation 61 (Treasury licences), substitute—

“Financial sanctions licences

61.—(1) The prohibitions in regulations 11 to 15 (asset-freeze etc.), regulation 16 (Territory credit or financial institutions: accounts and correspondent banking relationships etc) and regulation 21 (investments in relation to crude oil and electricity production) do not apply to anything done under the authority of a licence issued by the Governor under this paragraph.

(2) The Governor may issue a financial sanctions licence only with the consent of the Secretary of State.

(3) The Governor may issue a financial sanctions licence which authorises acts by a particular person only where—

(a)in relation to acts which would otherwise be prohibited by regulations 11 to 15, the Governor considers that it is appropriate to issue the licence for a purpose set out in Part 2 of Schedule 6, and

(b)in relation to acts which would otherwise be prohibited by regulations 16 or 21, the Governor considers that it is appropriate to issue the licence for a purpose set out in Part 3 of Schedule 6.”

39.  In regulation 62 (trade licences)—

(a)the existing text becomes paragraph (1);

(b)in that paragraph, for “Secretary of State” substitute “Governor”;

(c)at the end insert—

“(2) The Governor may issue a licence under paragraph (1) only with the consent of the Secretary of State.”

40.  In regulation 63 (aircraft licences)—

(a)the existing text becomes paragraph (1);

(b)in that paragraph, for “Secretary of State” substitute “Governor”;

(c)at the end insert—

“(2) The Governor may issue a licence under paragraph (1) only with the consent of the Secretary of State.”

41.  In regulation 64 (licences: general provisions)—

(a)in paragraph (1), for “Treasury licences” substitute “financial sanctions licences”;

(b)in paragraph (5), after “a licence may” insert “, with the consent of the Secretary of State,”.

42.  In regulation 65 (finance: licensing offences), for “Treasury licence”, in both places it occurs, substitute “financial sanctions licence”.

43.  For regulation 68 (section 8B(1) to (3) of Immigration Act 1971: directions) substitute—

“Immigration directions

68.—(1) The Governor may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, direct that, in relation to any person falling within regulation 24 (immigration) whose name is specified, or who is of a specified description, that regulation has effect subject to specified exceptions.

(2) A direction under this regulation—

(a)may contain conditions;

(b)must be of a defined duration (and that duration may be expressed in any way, including, for example, being expressed in a way such that the direction ceases to have effect on, or within a specified period after, the occurrence of a specified event).

(3) The Governor may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, vary, revoke or suspend a direction under this regulation at any time.

(4) On the issue, variation, revocation or suspension of a direction under this regulation, the Governor may take such steps as the Governor considers appropriate to publicise the issue, variation, revocation or suspension of the direction.

(5) In this regulation, “specified” means specified in a direction under this regulation.”

44.  In regulation 69 (finance: reporting obligations)—

(a)for “Treasury”, in each place it occurs, substitute “Governor”;

(b)for paragraph (5) substitute—

“(5) A relevant institution must inform the Governor without delay if that institution credits a frozen account in accordance with regulation 55(4) (asset-freeze etc: exceptions from prohibitions).”

45.  For regulation 70 (“relevant firm”) substitute—

“70.—(1) The following are relevant firms for the purposes of regulation 69 (finance: reporting obligations)—

(a)a relevant institution;

(b)an undertaking that by way of business—

(i)operates a currency exchange office,

(ii)transmits money (or any representation of monetary value) by any means, or

(iii)cashes cheques that are made payable to customers;

(c)a firm or sole practitioner that provides to other persons, by way of business—

(i)accountancy services,

(ii)advice about tax affairs,

(iii)auditing services,

(iv)legal or notarial services, or

(v)trust or company services;

(d)a firm or sole practitioner that carries out, or whose employees carry out, estate agency work;

(e)the holder of a licence to operate a casino in the Territory;

(f)a person engaged in the business of making, supplying, selling (including selling by auction) or exchanging—

(i)articles made from gold, silver, platinum or palladium, or

(ii)precious stones or pearls.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the following definitions apply—

“estate agency work”, in relation to the Territory, is to be read in accordance with section 1 of the Estate Agents Act 1979(11), but as if references in that section to disposing of or acquiring an interest in land included (despite anything in section 2 of that Act) references to disposing of or acquiring an estate or interest in land outside the Territory where that estate or interest is capable of being owned or held as a separate interest;

“firm” means any entity that, whether or not a legal person, is not an individual, and includes a body corporate and a partnership or other unincorporated body;

“relevant institution” has the same meaning as it has in regulation 55;

“trust or company services” means any of the following services—

(3) For the purposes of regulation 69(1), information or another matter comes to a relevant firm “in the course of carrying on its business” if the information or other matter comes to the firm—

(a)in the case of a relevant firm within paragraph (1)(a), in the course of carrying on an activity in respect of which permission under Part 4A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 would be required if it had its registered office (or if it does not have one, its head office) in the United Kingdom, and

(b)in the case of a relevant firm within any other provision of paragraph (1), in the course of carrying on an activity mentioned in that provision.”

46.  In regulation 71 (finance: powers to request information)—

(a)in paragraph (1), for “The Treasury” substitute “An authorised officer”;

(b)in paragraph (2)—

(i)for “The Treasury”, in the first place it occurs, substitute “An authorised officer”;

(ii)for “the Treasury”, in the second place it occurs, substitute “the authorised officer”;

(c)in paragraph (4), for “the Treasury believe” substitute “the authorised officer believes”;

(d)in paragraph (5)—

(i)for “The Treasury” substitute “An authorised officer”;

(ii)for “Treasury licence” substitute “financial sanctions licence”;

(e)for paragraph (6) substitute—

“(6) An authorised officer may request a person to provide information within paragraph (7) if the authorised officer believes that the person may be able to provide the information.”;

(f)in paragraph (7)—

(i)for “the Treasury” substitute “the authorised officer”;

(ii)in sub-paragraph (b)(iii), for “Treasury licence” substitute “financial sanctions licence”;

(g)in paragraph (8), for “The Treasury” substitute “The authorised officer”;

(h)in paragraph (10), for “the Treasury”, in both places it occurs, substitute “the authorised officer”.

47.  In regulation 72 (finance: production of documents)—

(a)in paragraph (2), for “the Treasury request that documents be produced, the Treasury” substitute “an authorised officer requests that documents be produced, the authorised officer”;

(b)for paragraph (3), substitute—

“(3) Where an authorised officer requests a designated person or a person acting under a financial sanctions licence to produce documents, that person must—

(a)take reasonable steps to obtain the documents (if they are not already in the person’s possession or control);

(b)keep the documents under the person’s possession or control (except for the purpose of providing them to the authorised officer or as the authorised officer may otherwise permit).”

48.  In regulation 73 (finance: information offences), in paragraph (1)(d), for “the Treasury” substitute “an authorised officer”.

49.  For regulation 74 (trade: application of information powers in CEMA) substitute—

“Trade: information powers

74.—(1) An authorised officer may request a person who is concerned (in whatever capacity) in a relevant activity to provide such information as the authorised officer may reasonably require about the relevant activity.

(2) The authorised officer may specify the way in which, and the period within which, information is to be provided.

(3) If no such period is specified, the information which has been requested must be provided within a reasonable time.

(4) A request under paragraph (1) may include a request to produce specified documents or documents of a specified description.

(5) Where the authorised officer requests that documents be produced, the authorised officer may—

(a)take copies or extracts from any document so produced,

(b)request any person producing a document to give an explanation of it,

(c)where that person is a body corporate, partnership or unincorporated body other than a partnership, request any person who is—

(i)in the case of a partnership, a present or past partner or employee of the partnership, or

(ii)in any other case, a present or past officer or employee of the body concerned,

to give such an explanation, and

(d)remove, at a reasonable time and for a reasonable period, any document so produced if the authorised officer considers it is necessary to do so.

(6) Where a document has been removed by an authorised officer under paragraph (5)(d)—

(a)the authorised officer must, on request, provide a receipt for the document;

(b)if the document is reasonably required for the proper conduct of a business, the authorised officer must, as soon as practicable and free of charge, provide a copy of the document to the person who produced it.

(7) Where a document requested to be produced under paragraph (4) is subject to a lien, the production or removal of the document in accordance with this regulation does not affect, and is not to be regarded as breaking, the lien.

(8) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a “relevant activity” means an activity—

(a)which would, unless done under the authority of a trade licence, constitute a contravention of any prohibition in Chapters 2 to 5 of Part 5 (Trade), or

(b)which would constitute a contravention of the prohibition in regulation 49 (circumventing etc prohibitions).”

50.  After regulation 74 (trade: information powers) insert—

“Trade: information offences

74A.—(1) A person commits an offence if that person—

(a)without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails within the time and in the manner specified (or, if no time has been specified, within a reasonable time) to comply with any request under regulation 74 (trade: information powers);

(b)knowingly or recklessly gives any information, or produces any document, which is false in a material particular in response to such a request;

(c)with intent to evade any provision of regulation 74, destroys, mutilates, defaces, conceals or removes any document;

(d)otherwise intentionally obstructs an authorised officer in the exercise of their powers under regulation 74.

(2) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this regulation, the court may make an order requiring that person, within such period as may be specified in the order, to comply with the request.”

51.  In regulation 75 (general trade licences: records), in paragraph (4), for “Secretary of State” substitute “Governor”.

52.  In regulation 76 (general trade licences: inspection of records)—

(a)in paragraph (1), for “A person authorised by the Secretary of State or the Commissioners (an “official”)” substitute “An authorised officer”;

(b)in paragraphs (2) to (5), for “official”, in each place it occurs, substitute “authorised officer”;

(c)in paragraph (5)(a), for “official’s functions” substitute “authorised officer’s functions”.

53.  In regulation 77 (disclosure of information)—

(a)in paragraph (1), for “Secretary of State, the Treasury or the Commissioners” substitute “Governor or an authorised officer”;

(b)in paragraph (2)—

(i)after sub-paragraph (c) insert—

“(ca)taking any action with a view to instituting, or otherwise for the purposes of, any proceedings in the Territory for an offence under any provisions of these Regulations;”;

(ii)in sub-paragraph (d)—

(aa)in paragraph (i), after “Regulations” insert “(as they have effect in the United Kingdom)”;

(bb)in paragraph (ii), after “Chapter 2 or 4 of Part 5 on exports” insert “(as it has effect in the United Kingdom)”;

(iii)in sub-paragraph (e), after “any British overseas territory” insert “other than the Territory”;

(iv)in sub-paragraph (g), for “United Kingdom” substitute “Territory”;

(c)in paragraph (3)(j), for “Secretary of State, the Treasury or the Commissioners (as the case may be)” substitute “Governor”.

54.  In regulation 78 (Part 8: supplementary)—

(a)for paragraph (2) substitute—

“(2) But nothing in that regulation authorises a disclosure that would contravene the data protection legislation if that legislation were applicable to the Territory.”;

(b)after paragraph (5) insert—

“(5A) An authorised officer must, if requested to do so, produce evidence of their authority before exercising any power conferred by this Part.”;

(c)in paragraph (6), in the definition of “privileged information”, omit “(in Scotland, to confidentiality of communications)”.

55.  In Part 9 (Enforcement), at the beginning insert—

“Suspected ships, aircraft or vehicles

78A.—(1) Where an authorised officer has reasonable cause to suspect that a ship, aircraft or vehicle has been, or is being, or is about to be, used in the commission of an offence under Part 5 (Trade) or regulation 66(2) (trade: licensing offences), the authorised officer may—

(a)in relation to an aircraft or vehicle, require the relevant person to keep the aircraft or vehicle and any goods it is carrying in the Territory, until the authorised officer notifies the relevant person that the aircraft or vehicle (as the case may be) may depart, or

(b)in relation to a ship, require the relevant person—

(i)not to cause or permit the ship to proceed with the voyage on which it is engaged or about to engage, until the authorised officer notifies the relevant person that the ship may proceed;

(ii)not to land any part of the ship’s cargo at any port specified by the authorised officer, except with the authorised officer’s prior consent;

(iii)if the ship is in port in the Territory, to cause the ship to remain there until the authorised officer notifies the relevant person that the ship may depart;

(iv)if the ship is in any other place, to cause it to proceed to a port specified by the authorised officer and keep it there, until the authorised officer notifies the relevant person that the ship may depart.

(2) Where the authorised officer considers it necessary in order to secure compliance with a requirement made under paragraph (1), the authorised officer may detain the ship, aircraft or vehicle and any goods it is carrying.

(3) Where an authorised officer detains a ship, aircraft or vehicle and any goods it is carrying in accordance with paragraph (2), the authorised officer must deliver to the master of the ship, the aircraft operator or the owner of the vehicle (as the case may be) a detention direction.

(4) A detention direction under paragraph (3) must—

(a)be in writing,

(b)state the grounds on which the ship, aircraft or vehicle is detained, and

(c)state that—

(i)the power to detain is exercised under this regulation, and

(ii)any requirements subject to which the detention is carried out must be complied with.

(5) Paragraph (6) applies, in relation to a ship or aircraft, if—

(a)the ship or aircraft (as the case may be) is not a Territory ship or Territory aircraft, and

(b)there is in the Territory a consular officer for the country to which the ship or aircraft belongs.

(6) A copy of the detention direction must be sent as soon as practicable to the nearest consular officer for the country to which the ship or aircraft belongs.

(7) An authorised officer may use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of any power conferred by this regulation.

(8) An authorised officer must, if requested to do so, produce evidence of their authority before exercising any power conferred by this regulation.

(9) Nothing in this regulation affects any other provision of law conferring powers, imposing restrictions or enabling restrictions to be imposed in respect of ships, aircraft or vehicles.

(10) In this regulation—

“consular officer”, in relation to a foreign country, means the officer recognised by Her Majesty as a consular officer of that foreign country in the Territory;

“the relevant person” means any of the following—

Search warrants

78B.—(1) A magistrate or justice of the peace may issue a search warrant if satisfied by information on oath that—

(a)there is reasonable cause to suspect that a relevant offence under these Regulations has been, or is being, or is about to be, committed, and

(b)evidence in relation to the offence is to be found on a ship, aircraft, vehicle or premises specified in the information.

(2) A search warrant issued under this regulation is a warrant empowering an authorised officer to enter and search the ship, aircraft, vehicle or premises specified in the information, at any time within one month from the date of the warrant.

(3) The powers conferred on an authorised officer by a search warrant under this regulation include powers to—

(a)in the case of a power to enter a ship, aircraft or vehicle, stop that ship, aircraft or vehicle;

(b)enter any land, where such entry appears to the authorised officer to be necessary in order to enter the ship, aircraft, vehicle or premises specified in the information;

(c)take such other persons and such equipment on to the ship, aircraft, vehicle or premises as appear to the authorised officer to be necessary;

(d)inspect and seize any thing found in the course of a search if the authorised officer has reasonable cause to suspect that—

(i)it is evidence in relation to a relevant offence under these Regulations, or

(ii)it is necessary to seize it in order to prevent it being concealed, lost, damaged, altered or destroyed;

(e)take copies of any document.

(4) An authorised officer who enters a ship, aircraft, vehicle or premises under a search warrant issued under this regulation may—

(a)search any person found on the ship, aircraft, vehicle or premises whom the officer has reasonable cause to suspect to be in possession of any thing which may be required as evidence for the purposes of proceedings in respect of a relevant offence under these Regulations, and

(b)seize any such thing found in such a search.

(5) Any thing seized under paragraphs (3)(d) or (4)(b)—

(a)may be retained for so long as is necessary in all the circumstances, and

(b)where that thing is prohibited goods and is not authorised by a trade licence, may be forfeited, disposed of or transferred as appropriate.

(6) A search of a person under paragraph (4)(a) must be carried out by a person of the same sex.

(7) An authorised officer may use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of any power conferred by this regulation.

(8) An authorised officer must, if requested to do so, produce evidence of their authority before exercising any power conferred by this regulation.

(9) Nothing in this regulation affects any other provision of law conferring powers, imposing restrictions or enabling restrictions to be imposed in respect of ships, aircraft or vehicles.

(10) For the purposes of this regulation—

“information on oath” includes any other form of application for a search warrant applicable in the Territory;

“justice of the peace” includes other competent judicial authorities within the Territory responsible for issuing search warrants;

“prohibited goods” means goods which have been or are being dealt with in contravention of any prohibition in Chapters 2 to 4 of Part 5 (Trade);

“relevant offence” means an offence which is punishable with a term of imprisonment of more than 6 months.”

56.  For regulation 79 (penalties for offences) substitute—

“79.—(1) Paragraphs (3) to (7) apply to—

(a)Anguilla;

(b)British Antarctic Territory;

(c)British Indian Ocean Territory;

(d)Cayman Islands;

(e)Montserrat;

(f)Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands;

(g)Turks and Caicos Islands;

(h)Virgin Islands.

(2) Paragraphs (8) to (12) apply to—

(a)Falkland Islands;

(b)St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha;

(c)South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands;

(d)the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in the Island of Cyprus.

(3) A person who commits an offence under any provision of Part 3 (Finance), regulation 53(1), (2) and (3) (aircraft: offences) or regulation 65 (finance: licensing offences), is liable—

(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or a fine not exceeding £5,000 or its equivalent in the currency of the Territory, or both;

(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years, or a fine, or both.

(4) A person who commits an offence under any provision of Part 5 (Trade) is liable—

(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or a fine not exceeding £5,000 or its equivalent in the currency of the Territory, or both;

(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or a fine, or both.

(5) A person who commits an offence under regulation 9(6) (confidentiality), 57(6) (exceptions relating to petroleum products), 66 (trade: licensing offences), 67 (aircraft: licensing offences), 75(6) or 76(5) (information offences in connection with trade licences) is liable—

(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or a fine not exceeding £5,000 or its equivalent in the currency of the Territory, or both;

(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or a fine, or both.

(6) A person who commits an offence under regulation 53(4) (aircraft: disclosure of information offence), 69(6) (finance: reporting obligations) or 73 (information offences in connection with Part 3) is liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or a fine not exceeding £5,000 or its equivalent in the currency of the Territory, or both.

(7) A person who commits an offence under regulation 74A (trade: information offences) is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or its equivalent in the currency of the Territory.

(8) A person who commits an offence under any provision of Part 3 (Finance), regulation 53(1), (2) and (3) (aircraft: offences) or regulation 65 (finance: licensing offences), is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years, or a fine, or both.

(9) A person who commits an offence under any provision of Part 5 (Trade) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or a fine, or both.

(10) A person who commits an offence under regulation 9(6) (confidentiality), 57(6) (exceptions relating to petroleum products), 66 (trade: licensing offences), 67 (aircraft: licensing offences), 75(6) or 76(5) (information offences in connection with trade licences) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or a fine, or both.

(11) A person who commits an offence under regulation 53(4) (aircraft: disclosure of information offence), 69(6) (finance: reporting obligations) or 73 (information offences in connection with Part 3) is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or a fine not exceeding £5,000 or its equivalent in the currency of the Territory, or both.

(12) A person who commits an offence under regulation 74A (trade: information offences) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or its equivalent in the currency of the Territory.

(13) Where a fine in this regulation is expressed to be a sum in sterling or its equivalent in the currency of the Territory, the Governor may issue guidance specifying how to calculate the amount in the currency of the Territory which is to be considered equivalent to that sum in sterling.”

57.  In regulation 80 (liability of officers of bodies corporate etc), omit paragraph (4).

58.  In regulation 81 (jurisdiction to try offences)—

(a)in paragraphs (1) and (2), for “United Kingdom”, in each place it occurs, substitute “Territory”;

(b)omit paragraphs (3) and (4).

59.  After regulation 81 (jurisdiction to try offences), insert—

“Consent to prosecutions

81A.—(1) Proceedings for an offence under these Regulations must not be instituted in the Territory except with the consent of the principal public officer of the Territory responsible for criminal prosecutions.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) prevents—

(a)the arrest, or the issue or execution of a warrant for the arrest, of any person in respect of an offence under these Regulations, or

(b)the remand in custody or on bail of any person charged with such an offence.”

60.  For regulation 82 (procedure for offences by unincorporated bodies) substitute—

“82.  Any provision in an enactment which applies in the Territory in relation to criminal proceedings brought against a body corporate applies also for the purposes of proceedings in the Territory for an offence under these Regulations brought against an unincorporated body.”

61.  In regulation 83 (time limit for proceedings for summary offences), omit paragraph (4).

62.  Omit regulation 84 (trade enforcement: application of CEMA) (including the heading).

63.  Omit regulation 85 (trade offences in CEMA: modification of penalty) (including the heading).

64.  Omit regulation 86 (application of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005(12)) (including the heading).

65.  Omit regulation 87 (monetary penalties) (including the heading).

66.  In regulation 88 (exercise of maritime enforcement powers)—

(a)for paragraph (1) substitute—

“(1) A maritime enforcement officer may, for a purpose mentioned in paragraph (2) or (3), exercise any of the maritime enforcement powers in relation to a relevant ship in international waters.”

(b)omit paragraph (5);

(c)at the end, insert—

“(6) In this Part, “a relevant ship” means, in relation to the Territory, a Territory ship.”

67.  In regulation 89 (maritime enforcement officers)—

(i)omit sub-paragraphs (b), (d), (e), (f) and (h);

(ii)for sub-paragraph (c) substitute—

“(c)a police officer of the Territory;”;

(iii)for sub-paragraph (g) substitute—

“(g)a customs officer of the Territory.”;

(b)omit paragraph (2).

68.  In regulation 90(2)(c) (power to stop, board, search etc), for “United Kingdom” substitute “Territory”.

69.  Omit regulation 92 (restrictions on exercise of maritime enforcement powers) (including the heading).

70.  In regulation 95 (notices), for “United Kingdom”, in each place it occurs, substitute “Territory”.

71.  Omit regulation 96 (article 20 of the Export Control Order 2008) (including the heading).

72.  Omit regulation 97 (trade: overlapping offences) (including the heading).

73.  Omit regulation 98 (amendment to the Syria Council Regulation) (including the heading).

74.  Omit regulation 99 (other amendments and revocations) (including the heading).

75.  In regulation 100 (transitional provision: Treasury licences)—

(a)in the heading, for “Treasury licences” substitute “financial sanctions licences”;

(b)for “IP completion day”, in each place it occurs, substitute “the relevant date”;

(c)in paragraph (1)(a), for “, or deemed to be granted, by the Treasury under regulation 10 of the 2012 Regulations” substitute “by the Governor under article 33 of the 2012 Order”;

(d)in paragraph (2), for “Treasury under regulation 61(1) (Treasury licences)” substitute “Governor under regulation 61(1) (financial sanctions licences)”;

(e)in paragraph (3), for “2012 Regulations” substitute “2012 Order”;

(f)in paragraph (4), before sub-paragraph (a), insert—

“(za)the 2012 Order,”;

(g)in paragraph (5)(a), for “2012 Regulations” substitute “2012 Order”;

(h)in paragraph (6), for “(Treasury licences)” substitute “(financial sanctions licences)”;

(i)for paragraph (7) substitute—

“(7) In this regulation—

“the 2012 Order” means the Syria (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2012(13);

“the 2012 Regulations” means the Syria (European Union Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2012(14);

“the relevant date” means the date on which Part 3 comes into force.”;

(j)in paragraph (8), for “paragraphs (3) and (4)” substitute “paragraph (4)”.

76.  For regulation 101 (transitional provision: trade licences) substitute—

“101.—(1) Paragraphs (2) and (3) apply to a licence which—

(a)was granted by the Governor under article 8 of the 2012 Order,

(b)was in effect immediately before the relevant date, and

(c)authorises an act which would (on and after the relevant date, and in the absence of paragraphs (2) to (4)) be prohibited by Part 5 (Trade),

and such a licence is referred to in this regulation as an “existing trade sanctions licence”.

(2) An existing trade sanctions licence has effect on and after the relevant date as if it were a licence which had been issued by the Governor under regulation 62 (trade licences).

(3) Any reference in an existing trade sanctions licence to a prohibition in the 2012 Order is to be treated on and after the relevant date as a reference to the corresponding prohibition in Part 5 (Trade).

(4) In this regulation—

“the 2012 Order” has the meaning it has in regulation 100 (transitional provision: financial sanctions licences);

“the relevant date” means the date on which Part 5 comes into force.”

77.  For regulation 102 (transitional provision: pending applications for trade licences) substitute—

“102.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies where—

(a)an application was made before the relevant date for a licence under the 2012 Order,

(b)the application is for authorisation of an act prohibited by Part 5 (Trade), and

(c)a decision to grant or refuse the application has not been made before the relevant date.

(2) The application is to be treated on and after the relevant date as an application for a licence under regulation 62 (trade licences).

(3) In this regulation—

“the 2012 Order” has the meaning it has in regulation 100 (transitional provision: financial sanctions licences);

“the relevant date” means the date on which Part 5 comes into force.”

78.  In regulation 103 (transitional provisions: prior obligations)—

(a)for “IP completion day”, in each place it occurs, substitute “the relevant date”;

(b)in paragraph (2)(b), for “(Treasury licences: purposes)” substitute “(financial sanctions licences: purposes)”;

(c)in paragraph (3), at the end, insert—

““the relevant date” means the date on which Part 3 comes into force.”

79.  In Schedule 6 (Treasury licences: purposes)—

(a)in the heading, for “Treasury licences” substitute “Financial sanctions licences”;

(b)in the shoulder note, for “Regulation 61(2)” substitute “Regulation 61(3)”;

(c)in the definition of “frozen funds or economic resources” in paragraph 1, for “the designation of that person for the purpose of that regulation” substitute “that person being a designated person for the purposes of Part 3 (Finance) as defined in regulation 10 (meaning of “designated person” in Chapter 1 of Part 3)”;

(d)in paragraph 6(b)(ii) (pre-existing judicial decisions etc), for “United Kingdom” substitute “Territory”;

(e)in paragraph 16—

(i)for “UK credit or financial institution”, in each place it occurs, substitute “Territory credit or financial institution”;

(ii)for “United Kingdom”, in each place it occurs substitute “Territory”;

(f)in paragraph 17, for “UK credit or financial institution” substitute “Territory credit or financial institution”.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order extends with modifications the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/792) (“the Syria Regulations”) as amended from time to time to all British overseas territories except Bermuda and Gibraltar (which implement sanctions under their own legislative arrangements).

Section 63(3)(c) of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (c.13) (“the Sanctions Act”) provides that Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide for any provision of Part 1 of that Act, or any regulations under Part 1 of that Act, to extend with or without modifications to any of the British overseas territories. Section 63(4) provides that this includes the power to extend any regulations as amended from time to time.

The Syria Regulations were made under Part 1 of the Sanctions Act to establish a sanctions regime in relation to Syria for the purpose of encouraging the Syrian regime to refrain from actions, policies or activities which repress the civilian population in Syria and to participate in negotiations in good faith to reach a negotiated political settlement to bring about a peaceful solution to the conflict in Syria.

The Syria Regulations, as modified and extended to the British overseas territories listed in Schedule 1 by this Order (“the modified Regulations”), provide that a person designated by the Secretary of State for being, or having been, involved in certain activities, is a designated person for the purposes of the modified Regulations. Designated persons may be excluded from the territory and may be made subject to financial sanctions, including having their funds or economic resources frozen. The modified Regulations also impose trade restrictions on specified goods and technology (as specified in Schedule 2 to the modified Regulations), including goods and technology relating to chemical and biological weapons (as specified in Schedule 3 to the modified Regulations), goods and technology which may be used for interception and monitoring services in Syria (as specified in Schedule 4 to the modified Regulations) and those which may be used to repress the civilian population of Syria (as specified in Schedule 5 to the modified Regulations). A further trade sanction imposed by the modified Regulations is to prohibit the provision of interception and monitoring services to, or for the benefit of, the Government of Syria. The modified Regulations also prohibit aircraft from accessing Territory airports, by preventing them from landing in a Territory.

The modified Regulations provide for certain exceptions to this sanctions regime (for example to allow for frozen accounts to be credited with interest or other earnings and to allow acts done for the purpose of national security or the prevention of serious crime). The Governor of a British overseas territory to which the modified Regulations extend may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, issue a financial sanctions or trade licence in respect of activities that would otherwise be prohibited under the modified Regulations. Schedule 6 sets out the purposes pursuant to which the Governor may issue a financial sanctions licence. The modified Regulations also require the Governor of the territory to publish an up-to-date list of designated persons.

The modified Regulations prescribe powers for the provision and sharing of information to enable the effective implementation and enforcement of the sanctions regime. The modified Regulations also prescribe enforcement powers in relation to suspected ships, aircraft or vehicles, or for the issue of a search warrant. The modified Regulations make it a criminal offence to contravene, or circumvent, any of the prohibitions in the modified Regulations and prescribe the penalties that apply to such offences.

This Order also extends to the territories for the purposes of the modified Regulations specific provisions of Part 1 of the Sanctions Act, namely provisions relating to protection for acts done for purposes of compliance, Crown application and saving for prerogative powers.

The modifications set out in Schedule 2 to this Order include modifications to provisions in the Syria Regulations which are prospectively amended by the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/590) and the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/951) (“the amending regulations”). Therefore, article 1(1) provides that this Order comes into force immediately after both the amending regulations have come into force in the United Kingdom. The amending regulations will be brought into force on a day appointed by the Secretary of State in regulations under section 56 of the Sanctions Act.

An Impact Assessment has not been prepared for this instrument: the territorial extent of the instrument and the modified Regulations is the British overseas territories listed in Schedule 1, and no, or no significant, impact is foreseen on the private, voluntary or public sectors in the United Kingdom.