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UK: War on drugs is new battleground for party leaders

Stewart Tendler and David Charter

The Times

Friday 26 Nov 2004


TONY BLAIR and Michael Howard promised firmer action on drugs as figures
published yesterday showed that more 15-year-olds have tried cannabis in
England than in any other European country.


The EU survey revealed that Britain also has the highest number of cocaine
users across Europe. Cocaine is now as widespread in Britain as in the US.


Mr Blair outlined a three-year strategy to target dealers with a pledge
that pushers caught near schools would face stiffer prison penalties.


But in a rival speech on the same topic Mr Howard accused ministers of
sending out mixed messages and promised to reclassify cannabis as a Class B
drug as part of a clearer approach.


The two party leaders went head to head just as they have done recently on
other key policy areas such as the environment and child care.


Mr Blair said that government policymakers had spoken to police and drugs
workers before announcing the main points of the proposed Drugs Bill
yesterday.


In an admission of the ineffectiveness of previous legislation, he
suggested that earlier measures reflected the 'complete unreality of a lot
of what would be debated in Parliament'.


There will be a new presumption that those caught in possession of more
than a certain amount of a drug are guilty of intent to supply, Mr Blair said.


Arrested suspects will be tested and required to attend assessment by drug
workers if traces of a Class A drug are found. Magistrates will be given
the power to remand for up to 192 hours those who swallow drugs until they
pass the evidence.


But the proposals did not include plans floated this week that traces of a
drug in the bloodstream could be used for a charge of being in possession
of an illegal drug.


Mr Blair said: 'We must bear down further on the organised criminals but
also the street dealers who peddle the misery of drugs. We must do more to
break the link between addiction and crime by getting more people into
treatment.


'We are offering a choice. If you are a drug addict engaged in crime you
will be offered a way out through treatment and help. If you refuse that
offer, it will be made more difficult for you at every stage in the
criminal justice system.'


Tackling Drugs, Changing Lives was drawn up after consultation with chief
constables and reflects the difficulties drug teams are facing, trying to
crack down on the network of street dealers which keeps the
multibillion-pound drug trade flourishing.


By 2008 the Government aims to have 1,000 offenders entering drug treatment
each week compared with 1,500 a month at the moment.


Andy Hayman, a national police spokesman on drugs and Chief Constable of
Norfolk, said: 'An inherent strength in these proposals is the way in which
officers carrying out the day to day job of drug law enforcement have been
consulted by government to ensure that legislators respond to the
operational difficulties that are being experienced at street level.'


Mr Howard also promised much more effort to rehabilitate drug addicts. He
said that the Tories would find UKP480 million a year for 25,000 rehab places.


Commenting on the Governemnt's plans, Mr Howard said: 'The Prime Minister's
record on drugs was that 'reality has not matched his rhetoric'.'


Mr Howard proposes increased powers for the courts and police to direct
addicts to residential treatment courses and random drug testing by
headteachers in schools.


COCKTAIL OF INITIATIVES


1998 New targets for cutting drug importations set for police and Customs.
Keith Hellawell appointed as drugs tsar with plans to halve the
availability and use by young people of heroin and cocaine and cutting by
50 per cent levels of drug-related crime


2000 Scotland Yard starts Lambeth experiment reducing arrests for cannabis
possession to redirect officers against narcotics


2001 Hellawell sacked as Government reviews drug strategy


2002 Three of four national targets dropped in favour of reducing the use
of class A drugs by people under 25, increasing seizures of heroin and
cocaine, and helping the Afghan Government to reduce the production of opium


2003 Government anxiety at inability to crack big traffickers leads to
plans for Serious Organised Crime Agency


2004 Cannabis downgraded to refocus police drive on middle market of
dealers. Drug treatment orders widened

 

 

 

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