TORY DRUG STANCE ATTACKED

Tories Have Called For A Hard Line On Drug Takers

Tory proposals to introduce a "zero tolerance" policy on drug offending have been condemned
by police, drug charities and human rights groups.

Shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe unveiled the plan, which would mean
major changes in the way police deal with drug offenders, at the party
conference in Bournemouth.

Under the proposals, anyone caught in possession of any quantity of any
illegal drug, no matter how small, would face a minimum 100 Pound fine.

Drugs found in the bloodstream would count as possession and drivers would
also face automatic disqualification for drug abuse at the wheel.

"We would not support this proposal," said Peter Williams, national
secretary of the Police Superintendents' Association (PSA).

"The policy is not to punish people for possession of drugs, but to try to
divert them from drugs.

"We support the present national strategy involving drug action teams,
which have a very positive effect."

'Counter-Productive'

While Fred Broughton, chairman of the Police Federation, welcomed "this
unambiguous signal that drug taking is illegal", he said the practical
policing implications would need to be examined.

Mike Goodman, director of national drug charity Release, said the Tory plan
was bitterly disappointing.

"This proposal is wrong in principle and counter-productive in practice,"
he said.

"It is a step backwards that will further criminalise young, otherwise
law-abiding citizens. The demonisation of cannabis users is simply not
justified.

"This proposal is more likely to bring our drugs laws into disrepute and
undermine the progress that has been made in recent years in dealing with
the genuinely dangerous drugs and improved treatment facilities for those
who do have problems."

According to the latest published figures from the British Crime Survey, a
quarter of the adult population has tried cannabis at some point.

Among 16 to 29-year-olds, this figure is 42%.

Convictions for cannabis possession have increased dramatically in the past
decade.

According to the most recent figures, in 1998, 97,249 people were
cautioned, fined or found guilty of possessing cannabis, nearly four times
the level of 10 years before.

'Heavy-Handed'

Paul Cavadino, of the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of
Offenders (Nacro), said the proposals would do nothing for public safety.

"This heavy handed approach will create headaches for the police and bring
the law into disrepute in the eyes of many otherwise law-abiding young people.

"A criminal record makes it harder to get a job. In view of the links
between unemployment and crime, this policy is likely to increase criminal
activity rather than reduce it."

The Human rights group Liberty described the proposals as a waste of police
resources.

Director John Wadham said: "Now is not the time to step up the penalties
against drug users.

"Possession of small amounts of drugs should be decriminalised."

Home Office minister Charles Clarke told the BBC that the key issue in the
fight against drugs was how to "ensure that serious drug abuse is dealt
with through the criminal justice system".

"I think that is the real area where we have to focus, rather than a kind
of PR stunt for the Tory party conference."

Officials estimate the Tory proposals would result in about 50,000 fixed
penalty notices issued a year.