On 27 June 2024, the Court of Appeal handed down judgment in World Uyghur Congress v National Crime Agency [2024] EWCA Civ 715. The challenge of a 2023 decision by the High Court was brought by World Uyghur Congress ("WUC")...more
Why is this case important? The case challenged a decision by the National Crime Agency (“NCA”) not to carry out investigations into whether consignments of cotton goods were the product of alleged forced labour and/or other...more
The ruling propels UK law enforcement to increase its investigative powers under POCA, and businesses to enhance their supply chain due diligence. On 27 June 2024, the UK Court of Appeal found that the National Crime...more
The UK Court of Appeal recently held that the National Crime Agency’s decision not to investigate whether cotton goods manufactured in China and imported to the UK were the product of forced labour was unlawful — a decision...more
Introduction Potential criminal activity in international supply chains can create reputational, civil, and criminal risks. This can be particularly difficult to manage when there are many links in a chain from the source of...more
A recent English court ruling has shed light on the approach of UK enforcement authorities to the question of money laundering risks where there is potential forced labour / modern slavery in a supply chain. The ruling will...more
The National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK has indicated a willingness to investigate companies that import goods made or assembled by forced labourers on the grounds that those products may constitute the proceeds of crime....more
- There is increasing regulatory, commercial and media attention in the U.K. and the EU regarding the role of human rights in company supply chains. - The U.K. and the EU are introducing specific measures around human...more