Under which legislation is insider dealing classified as a criminal offense?

Insider dealing is classified as a criminal offense under the Criminal Justice Act. This legislation specifically addresses various forms of financial crime, including insider trading, which involves trading securities based on non-public, material information about a company. The Criminal Justice Act establishes the legal framework for prosecuting individuals who engage in this type of illicit trading activity.

The focus of the Criminal Justice Act is on maintaining the integrity of the financial markets and protecting investors by ensuring that all market participants have equal access to information. By criminalizing insider dealing, the act aims to deter such practices and promote transparency in trading, which is essential for the functioning of a fair marketplace.

Other pieces of legislation, such as the Companies Act and the Financial Services Act, provide regulatory frameworks for corporate governance and general financial services operations but do not specifically classify insider dealing as a criminal offense. The Securities Act primarily focuses on the regulation of securities offerings and disclosures rather than criminalizing insider trading.