# FATF R.31 — Powers of law enforcement and investigative authorities - **Part of:** [[FATF Recommendations]] Investigating authorities must be able to obtain all necessary documents and information, using compulsory measures (production of records, search, witness statements, seizure) and a wide range of investigative techniques. They must have timely access to information such as beneficial ownership, tax and asset-registry data, mechanisms to identify who holds or controls accounts, and the ability to ask the FIU for relevant information. ## Keyed AMLR articles _none_ ## Authoritative text > [!quote]- FATF Recommendation 31 — text of the Recommendation (FATF Recommendations, updated June 2026); interpretive note not reproduced > **31. Powers of law enforcement and investigative authorities** > When conducting investigations of money laundering, associated predicate offences and terrorist financing, competent authorities should be able to obtain access to all necessary documents and information for use in those investigations, and in prosecutions and related actions. This should include powers to use compulsory measures for the production of records held by financial institutions, DNFBPs and other natural or legal persons, for the search of persons and premises, for taking witness statements, and for the seizure and obtaining of evidence. Countries should ensure that competent authorities conducting investigations are able to use a wide range of investigative techniques suitable for the investigation of money laundering, associated predicate offences and terrorist financing. These investigative techniques include: undercover operations, intercepting communications, accessing computer systems and controlled delivery. > Countries should ensure that competent authorities have timely access to a wide range of information, particularly to support the identification and tracing of criminal property and property of corresponding value. This may include, but is not limited to, basic and beneficial ownership information, information held by tax authorities, information held in asset registries (such as for land, property, vehicles, shares, or other assets), and information held in citizenship, residency, or social benefit registries. > In addition, countries should have effective mechanisms in place to identify, in a timely manner, whether natural or legal persons hold or control accounts. They should also have mechanisms to ensure that competent authorities have a process to identify assets without prior notification to the owner. When conducting investigations of money laundering, associated predicate offences and terrorist financing, competent authorities should be able to ask for all relevant information held by the FIU.