Officials working for local councils and various other public bodies are 
to get the power to search homes and seize assets worth more than £1K 
for minor offences, via a statutory instrument that extends the powers 
of the Proceeds of Crime Act:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8329583.stm

"Under the move Accredited Financial Investigators, which include 
customs officers, Department of Work and Pensions investigators, trading 
standards and other local authority workers, are to be given the power 
to seize assets worth more than £1,000 ahead of a court ruling on their 
origin and to execute search warrants."

Note that you need not be convicted of any offence at any stage in this 
process - the court ruling is on balance of probabilities that you 
acquired the assets unlawfully.

James

-- 
James Hammerton,
http://jameshammerton.blogspot.com/
http://www.magnacartaplus.org/news/