The Government's strategy for dealing with crime is to sustain the rule of law by preventing crime where possible; to detect culprits when crimes are commited,to deal firmly,to provide more effective support for the victims of crime.With continuing concern in Britain, as in many other countries, over rising crime rates, public expenditure on law and order programme reflects the special priority given by the Government to these services.More than two-thirds of total expenditure is initially incurred by local authorities (with the help of central government grants), mainly on the police service. The Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 provides for the pre-trial freezing of suspected drug trafficker's assets, backed up on conviction by immediate confiscation of the assets to the value of the proceeds of the crime.The Public Order Act 1986 codifies the common law offences of riot, unlawful assembly and affray.Under the Criminal Justice Act 1987 a Serious Fraud Office with wide powers to investigate and prosecute serious or complex fraud in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was established in 1988.
