LAWS URGED TO CATCH THE 'MR BIGS'

American-style laws to catch back-room criminal "godfathers" who are
evading justice, are being examined by police chiefs, it was revealed
yesterday.

Dozens of major criminals are virtually untouchable because they have hired
hands to carry out their dangerous work.

The police are aware of suspected criminal overlords who have vast assets
obtained from lawbreaking, such as drug trafficking, robbery and
bootlegging, but cannot convict them of any offence. Some are living in
huge houses, own expensive cars and go on exotic holidays, but have no
obvious source of income.

Sir John Hoddinott, Chief Constable of Hampshire and member of the
Association of Chief Police Officers' crime committee said: "We're talking
about the people who finance it [crime], direct it, but can never be caught
... the person who allows or commits criminality but who never has his hand
on the gun, the drugs or the money."

Superintendent Robert Golding, of Hampshire Police said: "We're talking
about the Mr Bigs who are very difficult to get. There are people who we
are confident are involved in criminal activities who we can't touch."

In a policy document presented yesterday at Acpo's conference in
Birmingham, the crime committee called for a review of the conspiracy law.

Sir John said that one possible change could be to adopt American-style
laws which force suspected criminals to prove how they paid for their
possessions. Failure to provide evidence of a legitimate source of income
can lead to imprisonment and the seizure of assets.

At present the police rely on using the law of conspiracy in which they
must prove that two people have organised a criminal act. This usually
involves catching the offenders in the act, which can be extremely
difficult. Any change would need legislation by the Government and would be
strongly opposed by many lawyers who would argue that existing powers are
sufficient.

Police chiefs have asked the recently formed National Crime Squad and the
National Criminal Intelligence Service to draw up a list of suspects with
vast unexplained assets. NCIS already has a list of about 400 key targets
or "core nominals".

"We've got in mind the sort of people who have no apparent means of income
but have three houses and drive several cars," said Sir John. He said that
police chiefs in England and Wales knew of "two or three" suspects in each
of the 43 forces. He added that the police would have to have some evidence
of wrongdoing before asking them to prove where their assets came from.

"You would have to prove there was a criminal lifestyle," he added.

- - The bank accounts of all new recruits and many of the existing 1,450
officers in the National Crime Squad will be monitored to ensure they are
not taking bribes, it was announced yesterday. A special vetting unit is to
be established in the squad as part of an anti-corruption initiative.