Subj: UK: Drugs war has little impact



Source: Times, The (UK)



Pubdate: October 26 1999





Drugs war has little impact 

BY TRUDY HARRIS 



KEITH HELLAWELL, the Government's drugs czar, admitted yesterday that the

availability of cocaine and heroin had not been reduced since he was

appointed by Tony Blair two years ago.



Mr Hellawell, former Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, also said that the

cost of the drugs had not increased despite more seizures. But he rejected

claims that he was losing the war against drugs.



Mr Hellawell told The Times that he expected some success in April next

year - 12 months after a ten-year strategy was launched to reduce the

number of addicts. The strategy focused on educating young people about the

dangers of drugs as well as increasing treatment services.



Mr Hellawell held a meeting yesterday with General Barry McCaffrey, his

American counterpart, who is touring Britain. The pair launched a drug

education website called ResourceNet, funded by the Health Department, at

Goldsmiths College, in southeast London.



General McCaffrey tried to leave immediately after the launch but was

jeered by protesters, denouncing hardline US drug policies.



Steve Rolles, a protester, said that both Britain and the United States had

failed to fund treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts. But a Cabinet

Office spokeswoman said that Mr Hellawell had spent two years developing

the ten-year strategy. During that time, he had also announced pounds 217

million in funding for anti-drugs initiatives.



Home Office figures have shown an increase in arrests for cocaine

possession from 3,400 cases in 1997 to 4,500 last year.