Pubdate: 16 Sept, 1999 Source: Scotsman (UK) Copyright: The Scotsman Publications Ltd 1999 Contact: http://www.scotsman.com/ Forum: http://www.scotsman.com/ Author: Robert Tait, Political Correspondent MCLEISH URGES RIVALS TO BACK CRACKDOWN ON SUSPECTED DRUG DEALERS LABOUR yesterday challenged Scotland's other main parties to put civil liberties concerns aside and back controversial proposals to seize the assets of suspected drug dealers. Henry McLeish, the minister for enterprise and lifelong learning, called on the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Tories to support planned hardline measures based on current practice in Ireland and the United States. His call - while campaigning in the Hamilton South by-election - came after a Nationalist MSP, Tricia Marwick, described the proposal as a "knee-jerk reaction" and raised fears that it could infringe on civil liberties. Critics are concerned that the sanctions could be imposed without suspects being convicted. Labour issued a press release in the name of Bill Tynan, its by-election candidate, criticising Ms Marwick's comments. That move prompted Alex Salmond, the SNP leader, to warn rival parties against turning the drugs issue into a "political football". However, Mr McLeish pointed to the 102 drug-related deaths in Strathclyde to date this year. He added: "The people who have died have had all their rights removed. Other parties have to come full square behind our position on this." Mr McLeish's challenge came after it was disclosed that the deputy justice minister, Angus Mackay, is to travel to Ireland to study its system. Powers given to the country's Criminal Assets Bureau enable the civil courts to strip suspected dealers of their money and property if they cannot prove that it has been obtained by legal means. Mr Mackay said yesterday: "The success of the Irish agency is one that cannot be ignored. There have been more than 100 deaths which are drugs-related in Strathclyde this year and they died because of the dealers' trade." Mr McLeish said the executive had been impressed by the success of the policies in Ireland and the US. He said: "In Ireland and America, if the police have good cause to believe that a person's wealth is based on drug-dealing, they can get a court order to confiscate without conviction. "This is not just a gimmick. It's a serious business of making sure we have got the toughest drug laws." Despite Ms Marwick's reservations, Mr Salmond indicated that the SNP could support the measures if they met criteria demanded by the European Convention on Human Rights. But he condemned the criticism of Ms Marwick, saying: "One of the things that's bedevilling the drugs issue at the moment is the starting again of using drugs as some sort of political football between the political parties. "I think it's vitally important that all politicians, regardless of party, agree to look at ideas such as this one and the many ideas we have put forward." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea