Clause 6 - Making of order

Part of Proceeds of Crime Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:00 am on 15 November 2001.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mark Field Mark Field Conservative, Cities of London and Westminster 10:00, 15 November 2001

I was not suggesting that it was just a stealth tax, but fundamental safeguards are needed. I was about to say that some self-serving arguments are advanced by those in favour of civil liberties which we were prepared to stand up against when we were in Government. However, I have grave concerns about Bills of this kind; in essence, the more that we allow the Home Secretary to appoint a director who has full, untrammelled rights to proceed and who can say to the court, ``You must do this, you must do that,'' the more it breaks down the concept of an independent judiciary, which is fundamental to our rule of law. Where this Bill leads, others will follow. Instinctively, I would say that in 99 per cent. of cases it seems to me to be entirely justified, because nothing is worse than seeing criminals getting away with it. But I refer again to what the hon. Member for Lewes said: one or two guilty people may get away with the proceeds of their crime if there is a discretionary approach, but that will ensure that many innocent people can rely upon essential freedoms.