POLICE CHIEF URGES DRUGS RETHINK

HUMBERSIDE Chief Constable Tim Hollis, who is also responsible for
national policies on illegal drugs, has called for an "open and
dispassionate" debate as the Government prepares its strategy for the
next decade, including a rethink on prosecutions for many users.

In 2008 Ministers will announce guidelines for the state's response to
drug issues for the next ten years and the debate is now starting
about which direction the Government should take.

Mr Hollis is also the Association of Chief Police Officers' spokesman
on drugs and believes public opinion is polarised, with the liberal
lobby seemingly prepared to legalise all drugs and their conservative
opponents viewing any apparent softening of the authorities' approach
with deep suspicion.

This leaves a vacuum where it is difficult to have a rational public
debate, he believes.

He told the Yorkshire Post: "We need to do what we can to generate an
open and dispassionate discussion about what does and doesn't work.

"It is really important that we have a clear discussion about what the
options are, rather than just prohibition and locking people up. We
have been doing that for years.

"We want to continue targeting those which cause most harm and
criminals involved in drugs. That manifests itself in a series of
ways," he said.

That could involve "greater pragmatism" at street level, with a higher
level or recognition from police that normally law-abiding youngsters
are more likely than most of society to come into contact with drugs
because of where they socialise.

"That is where we need a better informed debate across society, so we
don't criminalise unnecessarily young people going through that phase.

"We can make distinctions about what treatments and help can be
used.

"A lot of people are not committing crime to buy drugs, they are using
some of their hard-earned income. That is one area where the law is
not cute," he said.

A "dilemma" for society would be whether to treat recreational drug
users any differently to those whose lives are dominated by addiction
and lead chaotic, criminal, lifestyles to survive.

The situation in the UK means that already it would be unusual for
first-time drug offenders to be punished without first being offered
some form of help, but Mr Hollis's suggestion is that the whole policy
should be re-examined and redrawn if an improved system could be found.

There are many agencies other than police which will be involved in
shaping future drugs policy, but in the short term Mr Hollis thinks
the recently-formed Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) will be
a major benefit.

SOCA, which replaced the National Crime Squad earlier this year, is
still establishing its identity within UK law enforcement but Mr
Hollis believes police forces and SOCA will develop working
relationships which will improve overall performance against drug
traffickers.