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Drug dealers face assets seizure Drug suspect assets to be seized
(about 2 hours later)
Suspected drug dealers' assets could be seized on arrest, rather than charge, under ministers' new drugs strategy. Suspected drug dealers' assets could be seized on arrest, rather than charge, under a new 10 year drug strategy.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says it would stop assets being "salted" away - and said suspects who were "completely innocent" would get their assets back. The move is aimed at those who "buy 'bling', plasma screen TVs and other household goods" to avoid holding cash.
The Conservatives and civil liberties group questioned the legality of confiscating goods before convictions. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said suspects found to be "completely innocent" would get their goods back.
Ms Smith also said drug addicts would lose benefits unless they attended a meeting with a "treatment adviser". Addicts could also lose benefits unless they seek help from a "treatment adviser" but critics say the strategy is meaningless without more cash.
Ahead of the launch, she told BBC Radio 4's Today she wanted to see how the benefits system could be used "to help people to go all the way through effective treatment". 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.
She said there would be a "basic expectation that if drugs are stopping you getting into work you need to come along and actually have an interview with a treatment provider so we can at least get you into treatment, on the path to getting drug free and back to work". 'Unacceptable'
It is part of a package of measures in a 10-year drugs strategy Ms Smith said was intended to get people off drugs and cut drugs-related crime. 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.
Other proposals include: 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 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.
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.
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
      Critics have said the plans are meaningless without more money to support families affected by drug addiction.Critics have said the plans are meaningless without more money to support families affected by drug addiction.
      Deborah Cameron, of drugs charity Addaction, said: "We know of 10,000 children, just through Addaction, who are living with Class A drug users.Deborah Cameron, of drugs charity Addaction, said: "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.""There has got to be properly funded family support services."
      Under the government's plans, national targets will still be based on numbers signed up for treatment and retention on the scheme for 12 weeks rather than the effectiveness of treatment. The 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".
      Click here for a table of drug use estimatesClick here for a table of drug use estimates
      Currently only 3% left the scheme free of all illegal drugs, prompting a debate as to whether more emphasis should be placed on getting problem users off drugs.
      A Home Office spokesman said: "We now know that we can succeed in tackling drugs - because the last 10 years have seen progress and some notable successes.
      "The percentage of people who use drugs has fallen since 1998, and is at an 11-year low.
      "Because we have invested in drug treatment, we are getting people into treatment quicker than ever before - with people waiting on average less than two-and-a-half weeks for treatment, rather than nine weeks in 2001."
      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.
      It is thought 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.