Drugs Policy

Cannabis

Monday, 15, Oct 2007 12:00

One of Britain's most senior police officers has claimed drugs policy in the UK is failing and should be radically reconstituted to reflect the facts.

In a highly controversial paper today, chief constable of North Wales, Richard Brunstrom, argues the policy of prohibition and draconian penalties, has "not worked well" for several decades.

The report entitled Drugs Policy: A Radical Look Ahead? is due to be presented to the North Wales Police Authority today for consultation.

Mr Brunstrom argues illegal drugs are now in plentiful supply, and have become consistently cheaper in real terms over the years.

The number of users, according to the paper, has increased dramatically, perpetuating a corresponding rise in organised criminality.

Historically, Mr Brunstrom claims, drugs policy has been based on "moralistic political rhetoric", rather than evidence.

The ABC system comes under particular criticism from the chief constable, which he attacks for illogically excluding both alcohol and tobacco.

The report argues for the replacement of the current Misuse of Drugs Act with a Misuse of Substances Act, based upon a new system of assessing substances of abuse in relation to the relative harm they cause.

Mr Brunstrom even goes as far as to quote former home secretary, John Reid, in 2004, acknowledging that "prohibition doesn’t work".

The police officer insists drugs are not going to go away "as if by magic" and therefore argues the principal objective of public policy should be to minimize harm as far as possible.

Politics.co.uk brings you the key quotes and reactions. . .