EXPERTS DEBATE DRUG-RELATED CRIME

Five hundred drug policy experts from across Europe are in north Wales to
debate policing, rehabilitation of drug users and decriminalisation.

The landmark Flintshire conference organised by North Wales Drug and
Alcohol Forum has re-ignited the debate on drug use and the policing of
drugs in the UK.

North Wales Police chief constable Richard Brunstrom has called for a
joined-up approach to stopping Wales' 10,000 drug addicts committing crimes
and spending UKP2m weekly on their habit.

Mr Brunstrom recently argued that the war on drugs should fundamentally change.

"Drugs are ever more freely available and the UK's position is the worst in
Europe," he said.

"The crime, health and societal consequences of the war on drugs are
demonstrably awful.

"Not only this, [but] our current policy is demonstrably making things
worse," said Mr Brunstrom.

But a BBC/ICM poll to coincide with the BBC's Cracking Crime Day found
public opinion split on the effect of reforms.

* 76% of 500 survey respondents believe children are carrying out the
attacks to pay for drugs

* But 50% think prescribing heroin to users will increase crime; 40% disagree

* 32% think relaxation of cannabis laws will cause more crime while 20%
expect a reduction

Arrested Addicts

The outspoken chief constable has previously said people were deluding
themselves if they thought that arresting drug offenders and throwing away
the key were solutions to the knock-on impact of drug-related crime.

Officers in the North Wales force are trying to rectify the situation and
have six community psychiatric nurses working for them.

They are based at cell blocks so an immediate assessment and possible
treatment can be carried out on addicts arrested for crimes.

In August, south Wales' three police forces declared combined intentions -
under Operation Tarian - to arm arm officers in the fight against drugs.

They warned of a flood of cheap heroin and cocaine from Bristol and
Birmingham and, with it, the crime and gun culture that is plaguing parts
of those cities.

Last week, North Wales Police launched a compulsory drug testing pilot
project in north east Wales.

People being held in custody in Wrexham and Flintshire are being tested for
heroin and cocaine misuse after police were given special powers by the
Home Office.

The scheme was introduced after research showed they were most commonly
associated with drug-related crime.

Key Conference

Speakers from across Europe are taking part in Wednesday's forum.

They include the Welsh Assembly Government's chief drugs policy adviser Dr
Richard Pates and Netherlands government drugs adviser Dr Bob Keizer.

They will present their views on current and future policy and legislation
in the UK.

The key issues being discussed include whether there should be a review of
the current legal system and if a controlled prescription of heroin should
be trialled to a group of drug users.

In December last year, the police chief told North Wales Police Authority
the Royal Commission should investigate the possibility of legalising some
drugs.

He has previously compared the UK's drug policy to that of America's
alcohol prohibition in the 1920s.