TORIES TO RESTORE HARD LINE ON DRUGS

Oliver Letwin, the shadow home secretary, is to outline a new hardline
policy on drugs tomorrow, calling for zero tolerance of cannabis users and
the enforced treatment of all offenders.

If drug users refuse to co-operate with rehabilitation, under Mr Letwin's
proposal they could be jailed for possession of even a small amount of
cannabis.

In a statement reminiscent of Ann Widdecombe's controversial and
short-lived call for UKP100 fines for all cannabis users, Mr Letwin will
set out plans for the police to tackle anyone caught with soft drugs.

He will say that officers must not turn a blind eye to them, as David
Blunkett is proposing by downgrading cannabis possession for personal use
from class B to C.

Mr Letwin is visiting Sweden next week, where he says strong anti-drugs
policies have worked.

He said yesterday: "Just 11 per cent of Swedish schoolchildren have tried
drugs compared with 45 per cent in Britain."

"The Swedes realise that rather than waiting for young people to be tempted
on the conveyor belt of drugs, it is better to prevent the problem in the
first place," he said.

"Drug education in schools is compulsory. Rehabilitation programmes offer a
mixture of voluntary and coercive treatment,"he added.

Mr Letwin will outline a new programme aimed at children, including a
publicity campaign in junior and infant schools.

He will also suggest that the monarchy should join the fight, citing the
example of Queen Sylvia of Sweden who campaigns against drugs.