AUTHORITIES HAVE TO UPHOLD THE LAW

Growing criticism towards the local police chief who denied help from drug
squads.

Now comes demands that the police board in Stockholm steps in.

"The politically responsible in Stockholm are obligated to enforce existing
narcotics legislation," it says in an open letter to the chair woman of the
police board, Kristina Axen Olin.

It is Torgny Peterson, director of ECAD (European Cities Against Drugs),
who is the author of the letter.

The organisation is upset that the ravecommission's drug squad and the city
police's drug task force is denied access to the MTV-festival at the Globe.
The narcotics police offered their support with 20 men, but the local
police department said no thanks.

Evidence of Arrogance

"A statement like that is not only evidence of arrogance but also an
extensive ignorance about the presence of drugs in this type of events,"
Torgny Peterson writes in the letter.

He also demands that the errand is further investigated and imediately
brought to disscussion before Stockholms police board.

The reciever of the letter Kristina Axen Olin, chairwoman of the police
board in Stockholm, believes the debate is grounded in misunderstandings
and misinterpretations.

Must Be A Misunderstanding

"I can't believe that the local police department says no to the drug
squads' help to avoid scandals, as formerly has been stated," she says to
Aftonbladets Internet edition.

"It has to be a huge misunderstanding," she says.

Axen Olin states that there normally is no special forces in place during
concerts and other events at the Globe.

"Therefore it's not that strange if the local police department has made
the judgement that extra help is not needed," she says.

"All policemen are trained to handle drug issues," she concludes.