AML

MPs to probe Russian money laundering through UK property

MPs are to probe the scale of money laundering in the UK, including property bought with suspected Russian "dirty money".

It follows claims that £4.4bn of UK property may have been bought with suspicious wealth, with more than a fifth, or £880m, purchased by Russians.

UK and Russia relations are at a low point after a nerve agent attack on British soil.

The Treasury Select Committee inquiry will also look at terrorist financing.

Treasury committee chair Nicky Morgan said: "It has been claimed that the UK, particularly the London property market, is becoming a destination of choice to launder the proceeds of overseas crime and corruption - so-called 'dirty money'.

"Given the threats that face the UK, the effectiveness of the regimes that we use to protect our financial system from misuse have never been more important."

A report by anti-corruption group Transparency International in March alleged that London "has routinely been the choice destination for Russians with suspicious wealth to move and they have had little trouble doing so, taking advantage of lax regulation and offshore secrecy".