Chris Huhne

Liberal Democrats Challenge Government On Search And Seizure Powers For Councils

The Liberal Democrats have challenged the Government over an extension of the Proceeds of Crime Act that would allow councils and other agencies to search homes and seize assets for minor offences.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

“It is typical of this Government to use serious crime or terrorism to justify intrusive powers before rolling them out to all sorts of bodies for the investigation of minor offences.

“We have already seen this with Ripa powers, with terror powers and now, it seems, with seizing people’s assets.

“The Liberal Democrats have taken steps to ensure that we can oppose these new intrusive powers by pressing for a vote in Parliament.”

Notes to Editors

This extension to the Proceeds of Crime Act would be put into effect by Statutory Instrument without debate in Parliament. This particular instrument is subject to what is known as the negative procedure, requiring those who oppose it to register their objections through tabling a motion in the House of Commons known as a prayer, which is the action the Liberal Democrats have taken. Representations are then made to the Government for that instrument to be debated.