Plan to seize drug homes halted

Mr Blunkett reportedly pushed for the extension of powers

Plans to seize the homes of cannabis users considered a "serious nuisance" have been dropped despite a push from Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Health and housing ministers reportedly warned against plans to extend powers under the anti-social behaviour bill to close down premises associated with class A hard drugs to include class B and C drugs.

They said extending the powers would divert attention from tackling hard drugs and cause problems for councils who would have to house the people made homeless, according to the Sunday Times.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "It was explored, it was looked at and it was decided not to, having consulted with the police, drugs charities and ministerial colleagues".

Blunkett 'convinced'

But a leaked letter from Mr Blunkett to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, obtained by the paper suggested that as recently as 4 June the home secretary wanted to press ahead with the plan.

It would see police being given the power to close and seal premises associated with such drugs for up to three months.

Mr Blunkett told Mr Prescott, the chairman of the Cabinet domestic affairs committee, he was "minded" to strengthen the powers in the bill "to include all classes of illegal drugs".

"This would ensure that where such premises are associated with serious nuisance related to class B or C drugs they could be effectively controlled using these powers," he reportedly wrote.

"I have become convinced that such an extension also offers an appropriate additional control to premises used for illegal drug supply, such as `cannabis cafes'."