Pubdate: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 Source: Scotland On Sunday Contact: James Murray, Home Affairs Editor DEALER'S CASH SET TO HELP ADDICTS ASSETS seized from wealthy drug barons may be used to help addicts kick their habit as part of a new attempt to drive criminals out of business. Home affairs minister Henry McLeish is setting up an 'enforcement group' including officials from the Lord Advocate's office, the courts, the police, procurators fiscal, and the Scottish Office, to see how confiscation laws can be strengthened, particularly in the civil courts. McLeish wants the group to look at the possibility of using the millions seized from dealers to be used to help people recover from drug addiction. Money raised by selling the homes of drug dealers could also be siphoned directly into clinics helping young people trying to come off drugs. McLeish believes legislation could be prepared in time for the opening of the Scottish parliament in seven months. "Draconian steps may be required to deal with the kind of menace we have," he said. "To kill is bad enough, but to benefit from that death is frankly appalling." The minister's resolve has been strengthened following the death of a 17-year-old girl in his Fife Central constituency last week Jacqueline Gourlay, a childminder, plunged down a flight of stairs in Glenrothes after apparently experimenting with amphetamines. McLeish has not ruled out similar procedures used in Ireland and the US to confiscate drug dealers' assets, which are much tighter than in this country, but he will wait to see what the enforcement group recommends. He is also awaiting a report being prepared by the Home Office on confiscation. The legislation comes up for its next big test in Scotland on November 2, when convicted heroin dealer Stephen 'Fatty' Boyle, faces hearings under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Boyle, 31, from Shettleston, was jailed for eight years last week after being caught in possession of heroin with a street value of around UKP250,000. The Crown intends to seize assets, including cash, cars, a house, and jewellery worth a similar amount. - --- Checked-by: Patrick Henry