Pubdate: Thu,  5 Feb 2004
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2004 BBC
Contact:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

POLICE CHIEF SAYS LEGALISE HEROIN

North Wales Police Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom says he is
prepared to see drugs such as heroin openly on sale because current
drug laws are doing "more harm than good".

Speaking on BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye political programme, Mr Brunstrom
described drugs as a menace and said that current policy was creating
crime around massive illegal profits and putting vulnerable people in
danger.

"Heroin is a very, very addictive substance, extremely addictive, far
more so than nicotine, but it's not very, very dangerous. It's
perfectly possible to lead a normal life for a full life span and hold
down a job while being addicted to heroin.

"I don't advocate anybody abusing their body with drugs but clearly
some want to. What would be wrong with making heroin available on the
state for people who wanted to abuse their bodies. What is wrong with
that?"

Mr Brunstrom believes that legalising drugs would wipe out a
multi-million pound criminal trade and says he has been amazed to
receive "massive" public support for his views.

"The question is actually not 'am I prepared to see the government
selling heroin on the street corner or through the pharmacy?' But why
would we not want to do that? What is wrong with that?" he said.

"It's a very challenging question. I don't know what society's answer
is but my answer is that is what we should be doing because our
current policy is causing more harm than good."

In reference to the public backing he says he has received, he went
on: "I've had overwhelming support at the very least for a no-holds
barred, all-options considered, total review of the drugs laws.

"There is an enormous number of people of all age groups and all
sections of our society who are ready to see a root and branch change
to our drugs laws."

The chief constable - who has been heavily criticised over his
crackdown on speeding motorists - insisted he is not supporting the
drug trade - cannabis, he said, was not a safe drug and heroin was
"extremely addictive".

But, he said drugs should be legalised adding that there was nothing
wrong with the idea that the government could take over responsibility
for their sale.

The police chief's unconventional view on drugs emerged in 2001 when
he told his police authority that it was the only way to win the war
against drugs.

He said that, despite billions of pounds and thousands of officer
hours, the number of addicts and "recreational users" of illegal drugs
in the UK has multiplied at an alarming rate.

Mr Brunstrom compared the current situation with alcohol prohibition
in the USA in the 1920s, which was an "unmitigated disaster"
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin