News and resources on financial crime

Proceeds of Crime (Low Risk Financial Services Business) (Jersey) Order 2024

​The Minister for External Relations and Financial Services signed the Proceeds of Crime (Low Risk Financial Services Business) (Jersey) Order 2024 on 3 September, exempting specific demonstrably low-risk activities from specified anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) obligations which were captured by the Money Laundering (Jersey) Order 2008. 

Subject to certain conditions in the Order, the Order exempts:

• the provision of the gambling service of Crown & Anchor
• the acceptance of withdrawable share capital by The Channel Islands Co-operative Society
• certain director services (where individuals act as a director of a company and are NOT providing these services as so called “Class G” directors under the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998​)
  

These activities all remain subject to other statutory obligations, such as registration with the JFSC, the provision of information when requested by the JFSC, and the submission of suspicious activity reports (SARs). The Ministerial Order has been published following a review of anonymised data provided by the JFSC in order to inform the understanding of risk. 

The Order comes into force on 10 September 2024.

Jurisdictional risk in 2024​

During the course of 2024, Jersey Finance​, in partnership with Government and Themis, is producing a series of events focusing on the risks found in specific jurisdictions. 

The first of these was held on 18 April. 

Here, Carel van Randwyck gives a brief overview of Themis, his role in the organisation, and how the work they do can be of benefit to local industry.

What does Themis do?​

MONEYVAL: What next after the on-site visit?

The on-site part of Jersey's assesment by MONEYVAL ended in October. George Pearmain, the Director of Financial Crime Strategy, outlines the next steps before the publication of the Mutual Evaluation Report in July 2024.

MONEYVAL: Next steps

Money Laundering National Risk Assessment update 2023

IN September, as part of the Island's ongoing programme of National Risk Assessments, Government published an update to the 2020 ML NRA that focused on national threat and national vulnerability, and four specific sectors.

Here, Caroline Morgan discusses the NRA programme, the methodology and how they are put together. NRA programme overview

In this short video Caroline Morgan looks specifically at the update and gives an overview of the contents. Money Laundering NRA update 2023

The full report may be accessed here.

New national risk assessment published on Legal Persons and Arrangements

A new national risk assessment has been published which looks at the eleven different types of legal persons and arrangements which are available in Jersey, from trusts to fideicommis, and from companies to foundations. Here, Caroline Morgan discusses the process of putting the assessment together, a high level view of what it contains, and how it will be of use to industry.

LPA NRA introduction 

FIU Jersey achieves independence

Jersey's Financial Intelligence Unit became an independent body in July 2023, completing a process which, over a period of years, has seen it move from what was originally part of an operational Police department to a stand-alone agency in its own right. 

As part of the Island's National Strategy for combatting financial crime, the Assistant Chief Minister with responsibility for financial services, together with and all island authorities, signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding , governing how they work together in financial crime investigation and criminal asset recovery.

The MOU, which became effective on 23 July 2024, outlines the roles of the different agencies and critical steps being taken to ensure Jersey, as a major international financial centre, continues to play its role in the global fight against financial crime.

FIU MOU​

Digital ID and fighting AML/CFT

Julie Keir, Associate Director of Financial Services and FinTech lead for Government, discusses the challenges and possible solutions to make sure the Island has a secure and effective way of identifying clients digitally.

Digital ID progress update with Julie Keir on YouTube

The next 6 months and lessons from the Isle of Man's last assessment, and being placed in special measures

On 15 June 2023, industry were given a detailed outline of the next 6 months, including further briefings from the on-site visit in September to October and a review of a year of large scale live events.

15 June Live Government slides​

They also heard from Kathryn Simms, head of AML/CFT policy with the Isle of Man, about their experience of special measures post their 2015 assessment, and how they avoided the grey list and common areas of challenge in preparing for their next assessment.

15 June Kathryn Simms

Updates to National Risk Assessments

On 23 May 2023, there was a briefing to finance industry on the progress being made on the rolling programme of National Risk Assessments (NRAs).

National Risk Assessments of Terrorist Financing

An update to the Terrorist Financing NRA was published shortly before the briefing.

Drafted as part 2 to the 2021 Terrorist Financing NRA, it improves:

• our risk understanding
• addresses gaps in our knowledge
• the understanding of terrorist financing threat

While Jersey is fortunate not to have any domestic terrorism, that does not mean it could not be an attractive place for these funds to be held or distributed.

Pia Holm from the JFSC was one of those who put the assessment together, and in two videos explains firstly how and why we need to be aware of the threat of terorist finance, and secondly how the NRAs provide guidance to help meet that threat.

TF overview.

How the TF NRA may help.

Below is the link to the slide deck from the live event.

Industry briefing on Financial Crime 23 May 2023

National Risk Assessment (NRA) of Legal Persons and Arrangements

Legal Persons and Arrangements (LPAs) include everything from Companies to Trusts and more obscure arrangements such as fideicommis. There was a huge dat-gathering exercise carried out with the Registry and industry to improve our understanding of:

• how different kinds of LPAs are used
• how popular they are
• potential threats and vulnerabilities

The NRA is due to be published in June 2023.

In the following video Interim Director of Financial Services Helen De La Cour gives an overview of what's in the NRA and what it tells us about the risk profile of these sectors.

Helen De La Cour talks about the National Risk Assessment on YouTube

National Risk Assessment Money Laundering 2023 update

The first Jersey NRA was published in 2020 using data gathered mainly in 2018 and 2019. It was always intended as the start of an ongoing process, and since then several more specific NRAs have been published.

The 2020 NRA covered a lot of ground, and it was recognised that some specific areas needed further analysis to give industry a greater understanding of the risk profile in areas such as Trust and Company Service providers (TCSPs), and the legal and banking sectors. This update is due to be published in July 2023.

Combatting Financial Crime Together: Managing Higher-risk Jurisdictions; UK and Global Outlooks on Illicit Finance 

On 21 March 2023, finance industry professionals received updates from an international panel of experts on how to approach the risks Jersey faces as an International Finance Centre.

Jennifer Haslett, the Head of FATF and International Branch, Sanctions and Illicit Finance Team at HM Treasury, spoke about how the UK approaches cross-border risk, and how to tailor ECDD for international clients using FATF reports and Typologies.

Watch an outline version of her presentation Financial Crime: Understanding and Managing Risk with Jennifer Haslett on YouTube. 

You can also watch a question and answer section with Richard Pedley from the Government's Financial Crime Strategy Team, Financial Crime: Understanding and Managing Risk Q&A with Jennifer Haslett on YouTube.

Combatting Financial Crime Together: Proliferation Financing

On 23 February 2023, finance industry professionals received updates from Darya Dolzikova, a Research Fellow with Royal United Services Institute's Proliferation and Nuclear Policy Programme, and from the Financial Intelligence Unit, Jersey Financial Services Commission.

Proliferation financing

Watch the full interview with Darya Dolzikova providing an overview of Proliferation Financing on YouTube or access the specific subjects:

• what proliferation financing is
  
• how the funds are generated
  
• how they exploit financial and corporate infrastructure
  
• how it relates to ML and TF
  
• and how to counter it
  

Watch Proliferation Financing, questions and answers with Darya Dolzikova on YouTube

Proliferation financing an overview by Darya Dolzikova

Financial Intelligence Unit

Detective Sergeant Mike Fitzgerald gave an update on the Financial Intelligence Unit's view on terrorist financing.

Jersey FIU Terrorist Financing: what are we seeing in Jersey by DS Mike Fitzgerald

Event on Combatting Financial Crime Together: FIU, Non-Profit Organisations, AML enforcement, and typologies

On 31 January 2023, finance industry professionals were updated by representatives from the Financial Intelligence Unit, Jersey Financial Services Commission, and Government of Jersey.

Financial Intelligence Unit

Detective Sergeant Mike Fitzgerald gave an update on the new structure of the expanded Financial Intelligence Unit, following changes to the law adopted in 2022.
Jersey FIU MONEYVAL preparations and update by DS Mike Fitzgerald
FIU structure update by DS Fitzgerald on YouTube (9:59)

Non-profit organisation / charities supervision

Sam Davison and Kate Rogers from the JFSC outlined the changes to the non-profit organisation legislation and supervisory oversight to bring the Island into line with the FATF requirements to prevent terrorist financing and proliferation financing, while ensuring that the activities of the organisations are not impacted.

Non-Profit Organisations presentation, by Jersey Financial Services Commission
Non-profit organisation update by JFSC on YouTube (9:39)

Legislative changes to anti-money laundering enforcement

Dr Bastian Hertstein from Government set out changes to AML enforcement and explained the rationale behind these new laws, primarily focussing on the new Failure to Prevent offence, and Deferred Prosecution Agreements.

Increasing the effectiveness of AML enforcement in Jersey, by Dr Bastian Hertstein
Interview with Dr Bastian Hertstein on changes to AML enforcement on YouTube (11:13)

Typologies

Government's Director of Financial Crime Strategy, George Pearmain, explained what the Typologies Document was and how it could help industry spot signs of criminal activity.
Interview with George Pearmain on Typologies Document on YouTube (5:16)

Event on Combatting Financial Crime Together: Digital ID, Obliged Entities and Exemptions

On 16 November 2022, finance industry professionals were briefed by representatives from the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) and the Government.

Julie Keir, from Government, and Olenka Apperley, from the JFSC, discussed the progress being made on establishing a digital identity system in Jersey.

Adoption of Digital Identity Systems (Digital ID)

George Pearmain, Government's Director of Financial Crime Strategy then provided an update on how the Island is tackling the issue of beneficial ownership of obliged entities.

Beneficial Ownership - Obliged Entities and Access to the Central Register

Secondary Consultation re Non-Profit Organisations

On 7 November 2022, an event was held as part of the consultation on the proposed Order, which aims to bring Jersey into line with FATF standards as regards non-profit organisations (NPOs).

NPOs and charities - are you ready for the changes coming to the law?

Event on Combatting Financial Crime Together: Enhanced Due Diligence

Finance industry professionals were briefed on 19 October 2022 by representatives from the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) and the Government.

At this event Tim Butlin, senior manager of the examinations unit of the JFSC, spoke about:

• CDD measures and what they are seeing in industry
• what is working well
• areas where businesses can reduce their exposure to risk

CDD Measures, by Tim Butlin from the JFSC

Following this, Hamish Armstrong, chief adviser on financial crime for the JFSC, provided an overview of how and why you can enhance your due diligence measures.

Enhanced Customer Due Diligence: Refresher, by Hamish Armstrong from the JFSC

Launch of National Strategy for Combatting Financial Crime

Watch Julian Gouge speak about how he put together the National Strategy, and how businesses can use it to improve their own strategy to combat financial crime.

Event on Combatting Financial Crime Together: Risk

Business Risk Assessments are the foundation of any Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) strategy.

Earlier this year the JFSC conducted a thematic examination in regards to AML and CFT Business Risk Assessments (BRA) and strategy. At the event on 28 September 2022, Amanda gave an overview of these results.

Read the blog Combatting Financial Crime Together: Risk – summary of event held on 28 Sept 2022

Event presenting slides and film

On 14 July 2022, finance professionals were invited to a briefing on financial crime from local and international experts, to set out the progress to date from Government and the Regulator, and hear about the challenges facing the industry.

Financial Crime Strategy Industry Update

Combatting Financial Crime from JFSC

Blog posts on financial crime

Find further information on financial crime in the blog posts below:

Risky (virtual asset) business? (27 May 2022)

Russian sanctions: can you sanction crypto? (25 March 2022)

Russian sanctions: the impact so far (15 March 2022)

Increase Your (Financial) Intelligence (17 February 2022)