GOVERNMENT HITS BACK AT DRUG ADVISER'S RESIGNATION

The government yesterday hit back at the former drugs tsar Keith
Hellawell's "resignation" as a part time adviser on international drugs
policy in protest at the change in the cannabis laws. Mr Hellawell, whose
role as drugs tsar ended a year ago, claimed the cannabis decision moved
Britain "further towards decriminalisation than any other country. I have
resigned over this issue and over the issue of spin", he said on Radio 4's
Today programme.

The former chief constable claimed the policy was a softening of the law
which gave the wrong messages: "It's a personal initiative of David
Blunkett - I don't know where he got his advice from, he certainly didn't
get it from me."

But the prime minister's spokesman said: "He tendered his resignation last
month... At Mr Hellawell's request his resignation had not been made public."

Mr Hellawell claimed he was not consulted over the change in drugs policy.
But Downing Street said he had been supportive when he met Mr Blunkett last
autumn and had had further meetings with drugs minister Bob Ainsworth and
had not raised any concerns.

Mr Hellawell was appointed as a US-style drugs tsar four years ago. When it
was decided responsibility for coordinating drugs policy should move from
the Cabinet Office to the Home Office a year ago, Mr Hellawell lost his
role. Instead he became part time adviser to the Home Office, a role that
was due to end in October.