Criminal law finds a place in planning enforcement

摘要

How legislation ends up being used in the courts can be a far cry from its original purpose. Such is the case with the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), The act was put onto the statute books in 2002 and was intended to provide a means for society to claw back ill-gotten gains from serious and organised criminals such as major fraudsters, drug dealers and gangsters, However, in recent years, enterprising councils and their lawyers have started using POCA in planning cases. The latest in a slew of cases this year concerned several homes in north London that had been converted into flats without planning permission, ultimately landing the perpetrator with a bill amounting to almost £550,000.