POLICE PRIORITIZE MINOR DRUG OFFENCES

The Police prioritize minor rather than serious drug offences. This is
evident in a new report from the National Council for Crime Prevention (BRA).

"The police must be given more funding in the fight against organized drug
crimes," says Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Lars Engqvist.

The police authorities activity logs show that efforts against minor drug
offences, drug use and possession, is given a considerable higher priority
than efforts against serious drug crimes. A clear shift in comparison with
the 80's, according to Peter Lindstrom, director and researcher at BRA.

"Between 1988 and 1998 we can see that the number of working hours for
police drug enforcement has doubled. And they have in large been used for
enforcement of minor drug offences," says Peter Lindstrom to TT.

1988 drug use was criminalized. In 1993 the maximal punishment was
increased to six months imprisonment. In connection to the change of the
law, police was given authority to forced urine and blood tests on those
who are suspected of being under the influence of drug.

The number of persons who were arrested for minor drug offences has
increased 70 percent between 1991 and 1997 - from 4100 to 7000 persons. The
number of drugtests done by the police has doubled since 1994, from 6000 to
12000 in 1998.

The number of youths who have tried illegal drugs has increased during the
1990's. "On the basis of the information that is available regarding the
development of the illegal drug use there are no clear-cut signs that the
criminalization of drug use and the more stringent laws have had any
deterent effect", BRA writes.

However, it can't be excluded that youth drug use would have increased even
more if this legislation not had been introduced, BRA continues.

Henrik Tham, professor in criminology, is one of those who earlier has
criticized Swedish drug policy for relying to much on punishment and
prohibition.

"The statistics show that our tough legislation has not had an effect,
despite that the police enters body fluids in their search for illegal
drugs," says Tham.

"One could certainly say that we would have had a worse situation with a
different type of legislation, but one could always say that. The fact
remains, ever more people use illegal drugs."

Superintendent Walter Kego at the National Narcotics Crime Unit is critical
of the fact that many county's have disarmed their drug divisions.

"In order to get to the serious criminals we have to invest in specialists
on serious crime. At the streat level it works good, where we already have
specialists, says Kego.

Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Lars Engqvist, believes that the
police needs to recieve more funding to fight organized crime. He sees two
reasons to the increase in drug use.

"The relationship between the police and the social services does not work.
The police resources are insufficient," Engqvist says.