cannabisnews.com: Police Chief Backs Legalising Drugs Police Chief Backs Legalising Drugs Posted by CN Staff on May 13, 2002 at 19:54:25 PT News & City Source: Evening Standard UK A police chief is putting the controversial case for legalising drugs to rank-and-file officers. Richard Brunstrom, the outspoken chief constable of North Wales, is addressing more than 1,000 front line officers in a debate on whether drug enforcement should be relaxed.Mr Brunstrom, who will speak at the annual Police Federation conference in Bournemouth, has previously said that the only way to win the war against all drugs may be to legalise them. He has called for a Royal Commission on legalisation and believes the war on drugs in Britain has been "almost an unqualified disaster".Two weeks ago the Association of Chief Police Officers also suggested a relaxation in certain areas.It said in a policy document that heroin and cocaine users who commit offences like burglary, theft and street crime while on the drugs, should be sent straight for treatment rather than being prosecuted.Frontline officers will also hear from Transform, the campaign for effective drugs policy, and the National Drugs Prevention Alliance in the debate.On Wednesday, Home Secretary David Blunkett is expected to get a rough ride at the conference over his controversial pay and reform package.His predecessor, Jack Straw, was booed and slow hand-clapped during his speech at last year's conference.Mr Blunkett has warned that officers who jeer him will lose credibility and set a bad example to young thugs and tearaways.Source: London Evening Standard (UK)Published: May 14, 2002Copyright: 2002 Associated Newspapers Ltd.Contact: letters standard.co.ukWebsite: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/Related Articles & Web Site:Transformhttp://www.transform-drugs.org.uk/Cannabis Must Stay Illegal, MPs Sayhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12815.shtmlPolice Chief Calls for Rethink on Drug Laws http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11590.shtmlLegalise All Drugs, Says Police Chiefhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11569.shtmlThe Police and Hard Drugs: The Cleveland Report http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11520.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by Dan B on May 14, 2002 at 01:31:41 PT: Waaaaaaaaaaaaa! "Mr Blunkett has warned that officers who jeer him will lose credibility and set a bad example to young thugs and tearaways."For goodness' sake, somebody get this guy a pacifier!If the guy is so absolutely certain that the majority of those in attendance--police officers at that--are going to disagree with him, perhaps he should keep a lid on his ridiculous notions that somehow using the same policies that have been ineffective for decades will now suddenly become effective. Hey Blunkett--if you believe that, I have a bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona to sell you!Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by p4me on May 13, 2002 at 20:10:22 PT I'm with U pal Mr Brunstrom, who will speak at the annual Police Federation conference in Bournemouth, has previously said that the only way to win the war against all drugs may be to legalise them.My interest has primarily been with relegalizing marijuana because it is such a clear cut thing. I only reluctantly mention without the conviction I have for marijuana that cocaine and whatever should be regulated. People in Columbia are being killed because of the black market and the gangs that bang fight for turf because turf means money and the things that come with it. We need to do something different. If our vision of our future looks like the past, something needs to change. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment