The National Crime Agency has said it has found “no evidence that any criminal offences have been committed” after the Electoral Commission referred allegations against Leave.EU and businessman Arron Banks.

The National Crime Agency accepted a referral from the Electoral Commission of potential offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) and potential failings under company law against Leave.EU, its chief executive Elizabeth Bilney, businessman Arron Banks and a company called Better for the Country Ltd.

But, in a statement, the NCA said it had “found no evidence that any criminal offences have been committed under PPERA or company law by any of the individuals or organisations referred to it by the Electoral Commission. It will, therefore, take no further action against Mr Banks, Ms Bilney, Better for the Country Ltd or Leave.EU in respect of this specific matter”. 

"In reaching its decision, the NCA obtained advice from the Crown Prosecution Service and expert independent counsel due to the technical nature of Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA) offences and the company structures involved.

"The NCA has found no evidence that any criminal offences have been committed under PPERA or company law by any of the individuals or organisations referred to it by the Electoral Commission.

"It will therefore take no further action against Mr Banks, Ms Bilney, Better for the Country Ltd or Leave.EU in respect of this specific matter."

The inquiry concluded that Mr Banks took a loan from Rock Holdings Ltd, which he owned, and was legally entitled to do so.

He was also allowed as an individual to then give the money to Better for the Country Ltd, which administered the Leave.EU campaign.

The NCA statement went on: "The NCA has not received any evidence to suggest that Mr Banks and his companies received funding from any third party to fund the loans, or that he acted as an agent on behalf of a third party.
"There have also been media reports alleging that Mr Banks has been involved in other criminality related to business dealings overseas. The NCA neither confirms nor denies that it is investigating these reports."

Earlier this month the Metropolitan Police found that the Leave.EU campaign committed technical breaches of electoral law over its EU referendum spending return, but would face no further action.

The Electoral Commission referred the campaign to police over its spending during the 2016 poll and fined it a record-equalling £70,000.