'PRESCRIBE HEROIN' - EX-POLICE CHIEF

The former head of Cambridgeshire police has called on the Government
to follow the Swiss and give heroin to addicts.

Tom Lloyd, who was chief constable before Julie Spence took up the
post, believes the pioneering move would reduce organised crime.

The Swiss programme to give addicts Government-authorised heroin has
been overwhelmingly approved by voters in the country, who also
rejected the decriminalisation of cannabis.

Sixty-eight per cent of voters approved making the move permanent. It
has been credited with reducing crime and improving the health of
addicts since it began 14 years ago.

Only 36.8 per cent of voters favoured the cannabis initiative in a
vote on Sunday in a national referendum.

The heroin programme has helped reduce the number of drug users
shooting up in parks, supporters say.

It aims is to help addicts function in society, with counselling from
psychiatrists and social workers.

Mr Lloyd, who has campaigned for heroin prescriptions for addicts in a
bid to reduce organised crime, said: "This is very good news for
anybody interested in developing sensible, evidence-based policies for
tackling the problem of illegal drugs.

"This decision comes after more than 10 years of successful trials
with two thirds of the population in Switzerland voting in favour of
this change because they know that it works.

"I have long argued in favour of prescribing heroin to addicts to
reduce crime, harm to the addicts and the dreadful effects on local
communities, because there is no drug that becomes more dangerous to
the user or society when its production and distribution are handed
over to violent criminals.

"The costs of administering the system are far less than the savings
that would be made to the criminal justice and health systems.
Crucially, if the government prescribes heroin the dealers would go
out of business.

"I believe it will be irresponsible of politicians in this country not
to take a good look at the evidence and start presc ribing heroin to
those who need it as soon as possible."