Pubdate: Sun, 26 May 2002
Source: Scotland On Sunday (UK)
Copyright: 2002 The Scotsman Publications Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/405
Author: Brian Brady, Westminster Editor

Crack and Schoolyard Dealers Face Extra Five Years

CRACK cocaine is to be reclassified as Britain's most dangerous drug
because of its power to create a new generation of addicts.

Crack, presently listed as a Class A substance alongside hard drugs
such as powder cocaine, heroin and ecstasy, will be given a new AA
rating by the government to underline its dangers and signal to
dealers the seriousness of selling the drug.

The move to reinforce defences against crack - one of the
fastest-growing drugs on the streets of Scotland and the rest of the
UK - comes after repeated warnings that it was the most likely
substance to provoke violent and unpredictable behaviour among users.

Scottish police forces have reported increased amounts of crack seized
during undercover operations in recent months, following long-term
predictions of an 'epidemic' of the drug in both inner-city and rural
areas.

In a separate measure, dealers who target schoolchildren or push crack
cocaine will also get five years automatically added to their jail
sentences under tough new measures being prepared by Home Secretary
David Blunkett.

In legal moves likely to be adopted in Scotland, Blunkett will order
courts to come down more heavily on anyone caught selling drugs around
schools or youth clubs, by hitting them with a new offence of
'aggravated dealing'.

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman confirmed that ministers will also
consider creating a new aggravated dealing offence in Scotland.

Blunkett's hard-line move against the most dangerous drug dealers
comes in the wake of a controversial report from the MPs' Home Affairs
Select Committee, which urged him to downgrade ecstasy to a Class B
drug.

The Home Secretary infuriated senior members of the influential
committee by dismissing their proposal on ecstasy immediately. But now
Blunkett has made it clear that he wants to press ahead with MPs'
suggestions on upgrading crack and introducing new laws against school
gate dealers. "Both proposals have the support of senior politicians
because they send a clear message to drug dealers and users," one
senior Home Office source told Scotland on Sunday.

Criminal intelligence experts warn that drugs barons in England and
Ireland have begun to supply Scottish gangsters with crack, which is
specially designed to hook people in poorer communities.

The drug, made by mixing cocaine powder with baking soda and water, is
sold in one-ounce 'rocks' with a street value close to ?4,000.

Revelations of the latest government attempt to clamp down on the most
damaging substances were welcomed by anti-drugs campaigners in Scotland.

"Anything that sends a clear message to dealers that they face harder
punishments has got to be welcomed," said Alistair Ramsay, director of
Scotland Against Drugs.

"We also have to reassure young people that we are actually taking
steps to protect them against drugs, and that is more than just
showing them films in their schools."

The home affairs committee's report followed a 10-month inquiry, which
took in evidence from ministers, medical experts and senior police
officers.

Labour MP Tom Watson, who sits on the committee, said: "A new offence
of aggravated dealing will send out a clear message that selling drugs
to kids is just not on.

"Schoolchildren are vulnerable because schools are considered
lucrative new markets for some dealers."

He added: "The new Class AA rating would help set crack apart without
downgrading other Class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine."

The report found that the health risks associated with using crack
were as severe as cocaine powder - with symptoms including "psychotic
episodes", higher blood pressure and increased risk of heart attacks.

But it added: "To a much greater degree than powder cocaine, however,
crack also seems to be associated with unpredictable and violent
behaviour, resulting in harm to other people."

Home Office figures reveal that 271 people were imprisoned for
crack-related offences in the United Kingdom in 2000 - but only one
was jailed for more than seven years, despite the courts having the
option of a life sentence. 
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