By Simon Thomas, partner at Baker & Partner

Readers of media reports about Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs) would be forgiven for thinking that these orders give the authorities power to confiscate property if wealthy and politically exposed individuals can’t explain how they paid for it.

In fact, UWOs, introduced in 2017, are more limited.

They are a tool available to those who are investigating money laundering. If certain conditions are met, an individual or entity can be required to provide information as to how property was acquired. It is then for the authorities to evaluate that informati...