State-Sanctioned Ripoffs Of The Elderly By Government Agencies Running Rampant On Both Sides Of The Atlantic?

In Great Britain, the Daily Mail reports:

• A secret court that seizes the nest eggs of the elderly and vulnerable has triggered 3,000 complaints in the 18 months since it was set up, it was revealed [last month]. The obscure Court of Protection [of the Office of the Public Guardian] has taken control of £3.2billion in assets from those deemed unable to look after their own financial affairs because they are suffering from dementia or another mental incapacity. It adjudicates on contentious cases handled by the Office of the Public Guardian, a Ministry of Justice department which appoints 'deputies' to act for the mentally impaired when they have not written a living will.

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• The OPG often appoints relatives as deputies, but it also gives the role to solicitors or local authority officials if family members are deemed unsuitable. Families of those suffering from dementia complain that they have been treated like criminals and sent bullying letters from the court. The OPG has also charged £23million in fees from the bank accounts of those suffering from dementia to supervise the activities of deputies. The court, which is held in private, also pays just 0.5 per cent interest on savings it has seized, far lower than can be found at many high street banks.(1)

For more, see Anger as court seizes £3.2bn from elderly.

See also:

• The secret court of living hell (Straw promises to review Court of Protection after MoS exposes shocking catalogue of flaws),
• U.K. guardianship controversies mirror U.S. concerns.

(1) For similar stories of alleged state-sanctioned ripoffs of the elderly, infirm and others deemed unable to take care of themselves by government agencies from the North American side of the Atlantic, see:

• Brooklyn, New York: Retired NY Judge Reportedly Left Homeless & Broke By Guardianship Process,
• Brooklyn, New York: NYC Controller Urges All Brooklyn Residents To "Make Out A Will ASAP!" To Avoid Risk Of Getting Fleeced By Public Administrator's Office,
• Bronx, New York: NYC Controller: Bronx Public Admisistrator's Office Plays Fast & Loose With Dead People's Property,
• Los Angeles, California: Guardians For Profit: When a Family Matter Turns Into a Business (Conservators are supposed to protect the elderly and infirm. But some neglect their clients, isolate them -- even plunder their assets),
• Vancouver, British Columbia: The BC Public Guardian's Office: A Ruthless Organization Abusing The Rights Of The Very People It Claims To Protect?,
• Bell County, Texas: Estate looting 101: guarding against guardian abuse,
• Richardson, Texas: Elderly Couple "Snatched" By State Of Texas Celebrate Homecoming After One Year Of Nursing Home "Captivity" - Home Went Into Foreclosure, Car Repo'd,
• Guilford County, North Carolina: Orphan Forced To The Brink Of Foreclosure On Inherited Home Fights Back As Child Protective Agency Pockets Juvenile's Monthly Death Benefit.