Pubdate: Tue, 28 Sep 1999
Date: 09/28/1999
Source: Express, Express on Sunday (UK)
Author: Stacey Rudkin

AFTER reading the article about Tony Blair's fear of drugs and
drug-related crimes and his proposal for an urgent Crime and Justice
Bill (Express, September 27), I thought of the article "Drug-dealing
Lord walks free after newspaper sting" (Express, September 23).

How can the wealthy commit crimes and be punished lightly in
comparison to criminals from a deprived background? Everywhere one
goes, CCTV cameras are watching us ready to pounce on the first sign
of criminal behaviour, so why is it just for the Earl of Hardwicke and
his former business partner to escape a prison sentence for cocaine
dealing because of the undercover journalism tactics used to catch
them? Once again the elites are protected.

When Tony Blair starts going on about being afraid of drugs, perhaps
be ought to take a closer look in the House of Lords.

Stacey Rudkin, Address supplied