So the drug taking criminals won their case.  They were awarded £750 000.  Is it crazy?
825523
I asked a similar question yesterday and completly agree with everything you say - it really does defy belief.\n\nPlus, what sort of messege does this send? e.g. its ok to take drugs, kill someone and go to prison because when you get there you can either carry on taking drugs living in luxery at the taxpayers expense or sue the state and win loads of cash.\n\nEnough is enough - this government is a complete farce and really has lost the plot, my vote will be going elsewhere (anywhere in fact that is not Labour) at the next election. I hope others do the same.
584889
Maybe. Depends on where you live. In Canada it takes about 10 years to get a pardon for minor drug crimes. Don't know about the states... England I believe is similar to Canada...
728821
Because of the press is the short answer.\n\nHave you ever noticed when you watch the early evening news on the BBC there is NEVER anything positive on it?  For the positive news you always have to wait for the local news.  I don't even bother with the late news no more cause that s even more depressing.\n\nNot read on the cocaine story but as an ex-user i will say that it wouldn't surprise me.  Cocaine is not just a street drug.  It's a dance floor drug and a bedroom drug too.  So the average cocaine user is probably not your stereotype streetmugger.  They are more likely to be crackheads anyway.  You get more value for money if you crystallize the stuff.  And it ain't no cheap habit either.\n\nThere is nothing wrong with the British people.  I've lived here 20 years now  (half a lifetime) and the people are one of the things that prevent me from leaving although at the rate it's going for the rest it is only a matter of time before i'm out.\n\nIn 1999 i moved to Holland for a year. Whilst there i really wasn't happy and one day i watched Westminster today on daytime television.  Can't remember what the debate was (it was the House of Commons) but it had me in tears of laughter.  It came across as some twats with a good education, judging by their accents, putting on a play.  But they couldn't act and that was why it was so funny.   Ponit is that i never thought much more of it till i came back in 2001.  I saw the same twats performing their play but this time they were doing it with my tax money.  House of Commons has never beem the same in my view.\n\nThis country is stuck in a time warp of ancient laws that have been adapted to modern times.  It is ruled by the ones that are so envious of the real aristocracy that they are prepared to get rid of it.  but not before they have made themselves part of that aristocracy.  And it is shocking how many think it acceptable to compare Magna Carta to a constitution.  The British monarchy has told the pope to sod off and started their own religion since that was compiled!\n\nHonours should be given to commoners.  But never should a commoner be allowed to sit in the House of Lords.  Not even if he saved the Queen's life personally.\n\nSo when it comes to democracy it is probably one of the worst.  Whilst various European countries have had referendums over different things to do with the EU i still have to see the first one in Britain.  \n\nI grew up in Belgium.  One of the things i remember is yearly shopping trips to get the christmas shopping in Dover.  M&S for clothing, Woolworths for toys and Quality Street by the weight Boots for stocking up on the vitamins. Now the Belgians don't even bother with a boat service between Dover and Ostend no more.  And P&O or any of the other ferries don't have one either. (there is one that goes from Ramsgate though)  Did you know that on the ferries to France the chocolate is twice the price of what it costs in the supermarkets in Belgium?  And the Brits sail to Calais and drive to Belgium.  I have regularly seen them bulk buy washing powder and drag it back to Britain!?!\n\nI think in a way the British people do deserve the critisism.  When it comes to politics they always stick with what they know.  Blair will lose the next election and the conservatives will come to power.  And there will be another cycle where one party blames the other for 5 years, then some good years and eventually they will get too comfortable and take to much liberties and the whole thing will go back to labour.  or that is how i see it anyway.\n\nLessons from other countries?  One i would love to mention.\nIn the 50's the schooling system in Belgium was controlled by the church.  Church and state were one.  Then the liberals came to power and there were the school wars.  It lead to the seperation of school, church and state.  Choice of religion at school became a constitutional right and for those that were not rel
358401
Unless you get a lawyer to contest the forfeiture it will happen.  They don't have to goto court under the law.  All they must show is that the money was tied into illegal operations.  This is a lower standard then finding you gulity of a crime.  If the money was tied into a drug business in any way, at any time then legally they can take it.
124569
Actually the most likely thing is that the people took the ticket to a lawyer and a CPA. Most people with winning tickets do this. There is a LOT that needs to be done legally to secure the money, etc.
962983
A Bit more info needed ! How are they getting legal aid under false pretence ? I can tell you the legal aid board are very very thorough when they give legal aid ! if you can give more details of the situation i may be able to explain it .      \nWhatever happened to innocent till proven guilty ? you guy`s have already concluded that this person is a cheat without any proof what so ever ! Any body can get legal aid weather your working or not ! was`nt so long ago that a footballer who was on £50,000 a WEEK got awarded legal aid ! we need to see the proof that they are a cheat in the first place so a bit more info please !
838264
That's a lot of money to just let go.  If it were $1,700.00 then I might just whoop his a** and let it go but for $170,000...are you kidding?  Some attorney might take the case and it's free to check it out.
212361
I think coke users started this rumor. If they can get enough people to believe it, they can claim to the court that the coke wasn't theirs but just those random traces that 'everybody knows' money is contaminated with. In other words, they are trying to make excuses to keep themselves out of jail. \n\nIt's similar to the rumor that crack causes aids. It's true, but they're thinking of the wrong kind of crack.
700327
You were 100% ripped off.  I would go to the Small Claims Court over this - it costs £50 for the case and you will probably win back your £160 from them so you gat a net recovery of £110 which is well worth it.
198570
There comes a time when you have to simply take your medicine.\n\nThis is one of those cases. They were caught on video acting like animals. Pleading "not guilty" is a slap in the face to common sense.\n\nI hope they get life.
579018
I don't know the circumstances, but I feel if somebody commits a crime, they should have to pay. What's right is right!
1143731
I know you mean council tax, anyhow the lady in question was wrong not to pay her bill. I agree that carting someone off to jail for a minor offence is abominable when paedophiles are being set free.If only more people complained in this country, look at France, they have a riot every time the government there cocks up!It's time we stopped adopting the "stiff upper lip" attitude and started to show the politicians who their bosses are, us the taxpayer!
66928
It's great fot drug smugglers and dealers, and it's good for the law-enforcement industry (and it IS an industry).\n\nApart from that, it's largely ineffective.  \n\nLegalization would drive prices down; taxation would regulate usage and fund treatment for  addicts.  And just think of all the prison cells vacated for violent criminals!
1045692
The UK banks are now on watch for this sort of Transaction, and will report it as suspicious if not in keeping with your normal activity.\n\nMoney laundering / Drug based activites and counter terrorism are all issues for the banking sector. You would be suprised how wide ranging the effects of recent legislation here.\n\nForgive me for saying this though. You sound out of you depth if you are asking. BE CAREFUL!
1070678
HECK NO!!!!! They ALREADY get  almost everything they want!!! They get WAY TOO MUCH as it is!!!!!! The benefits/services they get for FREE,should be going to LEGAL citizens!!!!!! WHY should we reward these LAWBREAKERS??? It would ONLY encourage them to DEMAND even more from us!!!!
428629
Wow i actually had to go read the article because i didn't believe it was true! That is the most insane thing I've seen in a long time. It's also kind of odd that personal use is defined as four joints but 2.2 pounds of peyote, 25 milligrams of heroin, or 4 lines of cocaine. It makes you wonder if the officials there have their hands all in the hard drug market. I hate to say but most people who buy weed buy more than 4 joints worth at once. Also i remember a few years ago watching something on TV about the problem of Cali kids crossing the borders and drinking over there in Mexico so now the can go do a line, roll on X or shot a little heroine before coming home. What a ridiculous thing. Heroine ruins lives. My dad was on it way back before i was born but he stayed on methadone till he died. One trip to the methadone clinic is all it takes to show you what happens when you do heroine. you know that big tall fence idea is sounding better by the minute.
103561
i would raise a contract....in my place of employment we won the national lottery a few years ago, there were 15 members and we would have got £330,000 each thats if the bastard responsible hadnt been pocketing the money himself and not putting the numbers on each week, we couldnt sue because we had no contract with him! it works both ways.