Councils to get asset seize power

[mattheman]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8329583.stm

Local councils are to get the power to seize the assets of minor offenders under government moves next week.

The Proceeds of Crime Act - brought in to target organised criminals could be used against housing benefit fraudsters and other less serious offenders.

The Police Federation has expressed concern that "intrusive powers" are to be given to people who are not police.

But the Home Office said seizing "ill-gotten gains" was a key part of the fight against all kinds of crime.

The move, which is being pushed through next week by Home Secretary Alan Johnson, is set out in a Statutory Instrument, which means it will not be debated by MPs

more proof that you arnt free, you are gulity until you can prove otherwise

 

[ac1d1ty]

:/

Pretty insiduous stuff to be honest.

 

[nate247]

Yup, guilty until poven innocent as the saying goes. Yet more bureaucracy gone mad...

 

[mejinks]

Dear lord. These are the very people abusing the powers of the RIP act to spy on litter droppers and people who put their bins out too early.

Time to mail the MPs methinks?

 

[BloodyL]

That door can swing both ways Mr Johnson.........

 

[BloodyL]

Time to mail the MPs methinks?

It is those in power who have pushed this through, expect nothing but spin from the reply.

 

[mejinks]

Where would they stop though. Drop litter and they seize your car to pay for the council litter pickers? You know how utterly pathetic some councils can be. Maybe I am being cynical?

 

[BloodyL]

You are correct, In fact I am in agreement with you, but contacting your MP will do nothing, this is the work of Johnson, the MPs do not have a say in the matter, so all they will do is give you some spin on how it is important for national security, the war on terror and that nasty evil boogie man under the bed called drugs.

 

[Amnesia]

minor offenders get assets seized and people like this get .....

why are the people in charge hell bent on ruining the country?

 

[Meridian]

Yup, guilty until poven innocent as the saying goes.

You understand that the assets are awarded by the courts after the person is found guilty at trial, don't you?


M

 

[Tefal]

You understand that the assets are awarded by the courts after the person is found guilty at trial, don't you?


M

local authority workers, are to be given the power to seize assets worth more than £1,000 ahead of a court ruling on their origin and to execute search warrants.

they are seized before the trial, you get them back after.

 

[Vonhelmet]

Where would they stop though. Drop litter and they seize your car to pay for the council litter pickers? You know how utterly pathetic some councils can be. Maybe I am being cynical?

They can only seize assets that represent the proceeds of crime. Dropping litter doesn't give you any proceeds.

 

[mattheman]

They can only seize assets that represent the proceeds of crime. Dropping litter doesn't give you any proceeds.

what about phone line tapping for dropping litter remember that one. Giving this to the council means they can do what ever they want.

 

[hood1971]

what about phone line tapping for dropping litter remember that one. Giving this to the council means they can do what ever they want.

Or using anti-terrorism laws to follow family suspected of giving false address to get child into school of their choice.

The councils should not be given so much power, as councils generally misuse the powers they already have.

 

[Vonhelmet]

what about phone line tapping for dropping litter remember that one. Giving this to the council means they can do what ever they want.

That has nothing to do with whether or not dropping litter results in proceeds of crime.

 

[xJcBx]

As long as none of you are abusing benefits or the alike what's there to worry about? It’s only there to catch and prosecute the saps that bring our country down.

 

[BloodyL]

As long as none of you are abusing benefits or the alike what's there to worry about? It’s only there to catch and prosecute the saps that bring our country down.

"Power is nothing without control".
Yeah, I know it is a tyre company slogan yet it does ring true, you cannot offer this level of investigatory powers to those who have not been suitably vetted, they are police powers.
Why the councils and police forces aren't already co-operating in this area I don't know. (as in the council request an investigation by the police on the matter and the police then help the council prosecute if evidence is found.)

 

[hood1971]

It’s only there to catch and prosecute the saps that bring our country down.

The law was never intended for benefit cheats it was brought in to target organised criminals.
Councils have had a nasty habit of using laws set up for other purposes, like the Proceeds of Crime Act, and use them in an innaproritate fashion. As per my earlier post there was a council that used anti terrorism laws for check addresses given for school places.

As long as none of you are abusing benefits or the alike what's there to worry about?.

There should be a process of law to ensure that injustices are not done. New powers are being given to bodies that should not be the ones to judge criminal activity. Most of the councils I have lived in are badly managed and make stupid descisions on small matters - now you want them to make big descisions?

 

[Von Smallhausen]

Or using anti-terrorism laws to follow family suspected of giving false address to get child into school of their choice.

The councils should not be given so much power, as councils generally misuse the powers they already have.

RIPA is not an anti-terrorism law.

It was designed to regulate agencies such as the security services and private investigators on matters of surveillance.