Criminals should not be able to profit from writing about their crimes, the Conservatives have said.

Party leader Michael Howard said criminals should not be allowed to make money from books or articles written about their illegal activities.

The party is also accusing the government of failing to move on the issue, despite repeated pledges to take action.

A Conservative government would amend the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to allow literary and entertainment earnings to be considered proceeds of crime.

"Criminals should not benefit from their crimes. Quite the reverse - they should be punished for them," Howard said.

"Society needs to draw a clear distinction between right and wrong.

"That's why a Conservative government will act to change the law and stop people gaining from their crimes by writing about them."

Live entertainment and other commercial exploitation of the crime would also be covered by the legislation, said the party.

Earnings confiscated

The attorney general would be able to apply to the courts to have the earnings confiscated.

Shadow home secretary David Davis said the party would be backing moves to make it "illegal for criminals to profit from writing about their crime and their experiences - either when in prison or after".

"There has long been a problem with this, and whilst the prime minister has talked a great deal about solving it, he has done nothing," added Davis.

He said the move will remove the incentives that currently exist for them to publicise their misdemeanours.

Literary proceeds would include royalties from the publication of a book, essays or articles, as well as payments to assist in any such book or newspaper story.

Live entertainment and other commercial exploitation of the crime would also be covered by the legislation.

An "obsession with so-called human rights" has prevented Labour and the Liberal Democrats pledging action on the issue, said the Tories.