Premier Backs Drug Czar

TONY Blair yesterday reappointed drugs czar Keith Hellawell to his 106,000
pound-a-year job for another three years.

He brushed aside criticism of Mr Hellawell's record as he promised Labour
would 'crack down very, very hard' on those behind the drugs trade.

A new drugs bill is expected to give police powers to confiscate drug
dealers' assets including their homes and passports, as well as offering
greater support for rehabilitation projects in a drive to cut the number of
burglaries and thefts committed by addicts to feed their habit.

Mr Hellawell, former Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, has been sniped at
by critics who argue he has made little impact in the drugs role.
Grassroots anti-drugs workers complain that he has no means of changing
government policy

A Downing Street source said Mr Blair was convinced his czar was doing a
'terrific job' and that Whitehall struggled to cope with 'outsiders'.