PLAN TO SEIZE DRUG HOMES HALTED

Plans to seize the homes of cannabis users considered a "serious nuisance"
have been dropped despite a push from Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Health and housing ministers reportedly warned against plans to extend
powers under the anti-social behaviour bill to close down premises
associated with class A hard drugs to include class B and C drugs.

They said extending the powers would divert attention from tackling hard
drugs and cause problems for councils who would have to house the people
made homeless, according to the Sunday Times.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "It was explored, it was looked at and it
was decided not to, having consulted with the police, drugs charities and
ministerial colleagues".

Blunkett 'Convinced'

But a leaked letter from Mr Blunkett to Deputy Prime Minister John
Prescott, obtained by the paper suggested that as recently as 4 June the
home secretary wanted to press ahead with the plan.

It would see police being given the power to close and seal premises
associated with such drugs for up to three months.

Mr Blunkett told Mr Prescott, the chairman of the Cabinet domestic affairs
committee, he was "minded" to strengthen the powers in the bill "to include
all classes of illegal drugs".

"This would ensure that where such premises are associated with serious
nuisance related to class B or C drugs they could be effectively controlled
using these powers," he reportedly wrote.

"I have become convinced that such an extension also offers an appropriate
additional control to premises used for illegal drug supply, such as
'cannabis cafes'."