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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Drug suspect assets to be seized | Drug suspect assets to be seized |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Suspected drug dealers' assets could be seized on arrest rather than conviction under new plans for England and Wales. | Suspected drug dealers' assets could be seized on arrest rather than conviction under new plans for England and Wales. |
| The move is aimed at those who "buy 'bling', plasma screen TVs and other household goods" to avoid holding cash. | The move is aimed at those who "buy 'bling', plasma screen TVs and other household goods" to avoid holding cash. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said suspects found to be "completely innocent" would get their goods back. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said suspects found to be "completely innocent" would get their goods back. |
| Addicts could also lose benefits unless they agree to meet a "treatment adviser" - but critics warn that this could lead to an increase in crime. | Addicts could also lose benefits unless they agree to meet a "treatment adviser" - but critics warn that this could lead to an increase in crime. |
| The government says it wants to build on its previous 10-year strategy, which it claims has reduced drug use to an 11-year low and drug-related crime by 20% in the past five years. | The government says it wants to build on its previous 10-year strategy, which it claims has reduced drug use to an 11-year low and drug-related crime by 20% in the past five years. |
| 'Unacceptable' | 'Unacceptable' |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "We want to see fewer people start using drugs and for our society to be free from the problems caused by drugs. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "We want to see fewer people start using drugs and for our society to be free from the problems caused by drugs. |
| We expect drug users themselves to take responsibility, and will help them to do so Jacqui SmithHome Secretary | We expect drug users themselves to take responsibility, and will help them to do so Jacqui SmithHome Secretary |
| "We want those who do use drugs to enter and finish treatment and move on to lead healthy, drug-free lives. | "We want those who do use drugs to enter and finish treatment and move on to lead healthy, drug-free lives. |
| "We want communities to be free of drug-related crime and we want see tough enforcement of the law." | "We want communities to be free of drug-related crime and we want see tough enforcement of the law." |
| She said the government would continue to "send a clear message that drug use is unacceptable" but it would also continue to provide help for people trying to get off drugs. | She said the government would continue to "send a clear message that drug use is unacceptable" but it would also continue to provide help for people trying to get off drugs. |
| And she said there would be more emphasis on helping families hit by addiction. | And she said there would be more emphasis on helping families hit by addiction. |
| "We expect drug users themselves to take responsibility, and will help them to do so," she added. | "We expect drug users themselves to take responsibility, and will help them to do so," she added. |
| Other proposals in the strategy include: | Other proposals in the strategy include: |
| Grandparents will be encouraged to look after children whose parents are addicts | Grandparents will be encouraged to look after children whose parents are addicts |
| Social workers will intervene earlier when children are growing up around problem users | Social workers will intervene earlier when children are growing up around problem users |
| Schools will be rated by Ofsted inspectors on the effectiveness of anti-drugs lessons | Schools will be rated by Ofsted inspectors on the effectiveness of anti-drugs lessons |
| New deals will be sought with foreign governments to reduce trafficking | New deals will be sought with foreign governments to reduce trafficking |
| Women and ethnic minorities will have better access to drug treatment | Women and ethnic minorities will have better access to drug treatment |
| The strategy has been broadly welcomed by drug treatment charities - but some have warned that cutting addicts' benefits could lead to an increase in crime. | The strategy has been broadly welcomed by drug treatment charities - but some have warned that cutting addicts' benefits could lead to an increase in crime. |
| Alcohol misuse | Alcohol misuse |
| Harry Walker, of Turning Point, said: "In real life such a policy could have unforeseen problems, including a higher bill for the taxpayer through health and crime costs. | Harry Walker, of Turning Point, said: "In real life such a policy could have unforeseen problems, including a higher bill for the taxpayer through health and crime costs. |
| "We would want to see clear evidence from pilot programmes that such a policy would keep people in treatment and would not lead to problems becoming more intractable." | "We would want to see clear evidence from pilot programmes that such a policy would keep people in treatment and would not lead to problems becoming more intractable." |
| He also criticised the strategy for not focusing enough on alcohol misuse but he welcomed plans to give more support to former addicts seeking employment and greater use of community sentences. | He also criticised the strategy for not focusing enough on alcohol misuse but he welcomed plans to give more support to former addicts seeking employment and greater use of community sentences. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYA strategy to help users come off, and dissuade new users from starting might be a good idea. Phil, UKSend us your comments | |
| Deborah Cameron, of drugs charity Addaction, said more cash was needed to help families hit by addiction. | Deborah Cameron, of drugs charity Addaction, said more cash was needed to help families hit by addiction. |
| "We know of 10,000 children, just through Addaction, who are living with Class A drug users. There has got to be properly funded family support services." | "We know of 10,000 children, just through Addaction, who are living with Class A drug users. There has got to be properly funded family support services." |
| 'Unrealistic' | 'Unrealistic' |
| The government's strategy includes plans to extend police powers to seize dealers' cash and assets on arrest, rather than conviction. | The government's strategy includes plans to extend police powers to seize dealers' cash and assets on arrest, rather than conviction. |
| It says: "Those who buy 'bling', plasma screen TVs and other household goods, to avoid circulating cash, will have their assets seized before they have a chance to disperse them". | It says: "Those who buy 'bling', plasma screen TVs and other household goods, to avoid circulating cash, will have their assets seized before they have a chance to disperse them". |
| Click here for a table of drug use estimates | Click here for a table of drug use estimates |
| Previous efforts to confiscate the assets of drug dealers and other criminals have met with mixed results. | Previous efforts to confiscate the assets of drug dealers and other criminals have met with mixed results. |
| The Assets Recovery Agency, set up in 2002, was criticised by the Commons public accounts committee last year for being "ill planned" and "unrealistic" after it spent £65m over four years to recover just £23m. | The Assets Recovery Agency, set up in 2002, was criticised by the Commons public accounts committee last year for being "ill planned" and "unrealistic" after it spent £65m over four years to recover just £23m. |
| The new strategy will widen what can be seized and scrap the 12-year limit within which recovery proceedings must be taken. | The new strategy will widen what can be seized and scrap the 12-year limit within which recovery proceedings must be taken. |
| The government aims to recover £250m a year from criminals by 2010. | The government aims to recover £250m a year from criminals by 2010. |
| The Conservatives and civil liberties groups have questioned the legality of confiscating goods before convictions. | The Conservatives and civil liberties groups have questioned the legality of confiscating goods before convictions. |