SHAME OF DRUG OVERDOSE PROBES

ON MAY 6, Sir William Rae, the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police,
featured in Scotland on Sunday's On The Spot interview. I asked the
question: "Are you satisfied in the standard of police investigation
into drug overdose deaths?" Mr Rae stated he was. On August 30 it was
revealed that 421 people died in Scotland from drug overdose in 2006.
The highest number of deaths were in the Glasgow area.

The Crown Office has confirmed that if it can be proved who supplied
drugs illegally in a drug overdose death the supplier can be charged
with culpable homicide. To my knowledge no one has been charged with
culpable homicide in respect of any of the overdose deaths in 2006
and only a handful have ever been charged with this crime in Scotland
in spite of there having been thousands of such deaths over the
years. The police will tell you that all overdose deaths are
investigated. They will deny that such deaths are treated as a sort
of involuntary suicide and no real effort is made to find suppliers.
The arrest figures of suppliers tell a different story and I would
suggest if Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill instructs all chief
constables to record all such deaths as a culpable homicide, and show
if arrests were made, the deaths will decrease.

If this was done, drug dealers who take no care in respect of the
strength and cutting agent of the drugs will be more careful when
they realise they can no longer get away with killing people with
impunity. I would also suggest that any chief constable satisfied
with the present standard of investigation into the killing of our
young people should resign.

I am a retired police officer who served in the Serious Crime Squad
of Strathclyde Police and the Scottish Crime Squad.

Alistair Watson

Milngavie