The British Cabinet Office Minister, Dr Mo Mowlam, yesterday announced extensive plans to seize the assets of criminals in a proposal that could be worth up to £40 million a year, with the money being ploughed into tackling the causes of crime.
A national investigation agency will be established to co-ordinate the seizure of criminal assets from all types of crime and courts will be told they can extend the existing powers to confiscate the assets of drugs crimes to include all criminals.
The powers of customs officers to seize criminal assets will also be extended, enabling seizure at any point in the criminal process and not just at entry and exit points.
The Shadow Home Secretary, Ms Ann Widdecombe, whose party has announced several high profile initiatives on law and order recently, said she welcomed the proposals "in principle" but said in practice they were unlikely to work.
"It is all well and good to talk about seizing criminals' assets but in practice these proposals are fraught with legal difficulties, for example in proving the ownership of property," she said.
The Liberal Democrats welcomed the proposals but the civil rights group, Liberty, said it was concerned that the powers of a national investigation agency could be abused if it was partially self-funding.
Proposing to bring forward legislation as soon as possible, Dr Mowlam said her department and the Home Office had looked at similar legislation in other countries, including Ireland, in drawing up the plans.
At the launch of a report on homelessness at Glaziers Hall, central London, Dr Mowlam said: "Why should millions of law-abiding people work hard for a living, whilst a few criminals live a life of luxury built on the misery of others? Arresting and convicting criminals is not enough, we must also take away their profits."
The Home Office has also acknowledged that confiscation orders have not been as successful as expected. Only £3 million was confiscated from criminals last year even though it is believed that crime represents a £1 billion deficit to the UK economy each year.