EXPENSIVE WASTE OF TIME

RE; THE report "Essex Police organise training to combat drug use in
schools". (BWT October 18).

This heading is incorrect -- Essex Police have nothing to do with this
training course.

The report also implied Drug Awareness resistance Education (DARE) was a
'new' initiative aimed at combating drugs in schools Not so:

DARE was the brainchild (in the early 1980s) of Los Angeles Police Chief
Daryl Gates and is widely taught throughout the US. America is deluged with
DARE paraphernalia -- including bears, bumper stickers, buttons, hats and
jeeps. DARE has everything, except good results.

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson recently removed DARE from the City
schools and all the UK Home Office evaluations of DARE show it to be an
expensive waste of time and money and advise police forces against its use.
Essex Police have rejected DARE.

So, if Essex Police are not involved, the MDP are only hosting the course
and the Home Office have rejected DARE -- just who is running this show?

Why would an American police officer travel to the UK to learn about a
strategy which has already begun to flounder in his own country?

Don Barnard,
Legalise Cannabis Alliance,
Aetheric Road,
Braintree.