HARD-LINE ANTI-DRUGS PLANS TO HIT DEALERS

The Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will target drug dealers with new
powers designed to attack the profitability of their illicit trade.
The move is certain to face criticism from civil rights advocates.

The 10-year Drug Strategy will give police and other enforcement
agencies the right to seize dealers' assets once they have been
arrested in connection with inquiries. A Home Office spokesman last
night explained that the hard-line proposals would "send a blunt
warning to criminals that we will not allow them to benefit from their
crimes", as part of a campaign to double the value of seized assets to
UKP250m a year by 2009-2010.

Currently police have the powers to seize cash, but they must obtain
judicial restraining orders designed to prevent criminals disposing of
their assets after their arrest.

The changes, modelled on existing powers to freeze the assets of
suspected terrorists, include plans for a judge to rule on whether
there are "reasonable grounds" to seize possessions pending a
conviction. The Home Office plans to hold seized goods until suspects
are convicted, and then sell them off.

David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary, queried the move. "The first
question is what happens if no conviction is obtained? Will the
taxpayer have to fund a massive lawsuit?