Pubdate: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 Source: Independent, The (UK) Contact: http://www.independent.co.uk/ Author: Jason Bennetto LAWS URGED TO CATCH THE 'MR BIGS' American-style laws to catch back-room criminal "godfathers" who are evading justice, are being examined by police chiefs, it was revealed yesterday. Dozens of major criminals are virtually untouchable because they have hired hands to carry out their dangerous work. The police are aware of suspected criminal overlords who have vast assets obtained from lawbreaking, such as drug trafficking, robbery and bootlegging, but cannot convict them of any offence. Some are living in huge houses, own expensive cars and go on exotic holidays, but have no obvious source of income. Sir John Hoddinott, Chief Constable of Hampshire and member of the Association of Chief Police Officers' crime committee said: "We're talking about the people who finance it [crime], direct it, but can never be caught ... the person who allows or commits criminality but who never has his hand on the gun, the drugs or the money." Superintendent Robert Golding, of Hampshire Police said: "We're talking about the Mr Bigs who are very difficult to get. There are people who we are confident are involved in criminal activities who we can't touch." In a policy document presented yesterday at Acpo's conference in Birmingham, the crime committee called for a review of the conspiracy law. Sir John said that one possible change could be to adopt American-style laws which force suspected criminals to prove how they paid for their possessions. Failure to provide evidence of a legitimate source of income can lead to imprisonment and the seizure of assets. At present the police rely on using the law of conspiracy in which they must prove that two people have organised a criminal act. This usually involves catching the offenders in the act, which can be extremely difficult. Any change would need legislation by the Government and would be strongly opposed by many lawyers who would argue that existing powers are sufficient. Police chiefs have asked the recently formed National Crime Squad and the National Criminal Intelligence Service to draw up a list of suspects with vast unexplained assets. NCIS already has a list of about 400 key targets or "core nominals". "We've got in mind the sort of people who have no apparent means of income but have three houses and drive several cars," said Sir John. He said that police chiefs in England and Wales knew of "two or three" suspects in each of the 43 forces. He added that the police would have to have some evidence of wrongdoing before asking them to prove where their assets came from. "You would have to prove there was a criminal lifestyle," he added. - - The bank accounts of all new recruits and many of the existing 1,450 officers in the National Crime Squad will be monitored to ensure they are not taking bribes, it was announced yesterday. A special vetting unit is to be established in the squad as part of an anti-corruption initiative. - ---