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| 'Legalise drugs' call considered | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| North Wales Police Authority is due to meet to decide whether it will support a campaign by its chief constable for drugs to be legalised. | |
| Richard Brunstrom wants the authority to back his calls to scrap the current drugs law, legalise most drugs and bring in a new system to control them. | Richard Brunstrom wants the authority to back his calls to scrap the current drugs law, legalise most drugs and bring in a new system to control them. |
| His views have been described by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) as "a counsel of despair". | His views have been described by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) as "a counsel of despair". |
| Mr Brunstrom's report has provoked a mixed reception from politicians. | Mr Brunstrom's report has provoked a mixed reception from politicians. |
| The chair of the North Wales Police Authority, Ian Roberts, has said there will be a "full and frank debate" on the issue. | The chair of the North Wales Police Authority, Ian Roberts, has said there will be a "full and frank debate" on the issue. |
| Plaid AM Leanne Wood told BBC Wales' Politics Show that Mr Brunstrom was right to raise the issue. | Plaid AM Leanne Wood told BBC Wales' Politics Show that Mr Brunstrom was right to raise the issue. |
| Moving to total legalisation would, in our view, greatly exacerbate the harm to people in this country ACPO spokeswoman | Moving to total legalisation would, in our view, greatly exacerbate the harm to people in this country ACPO spokeswoman |
| Ms Wood, a former probation officer, said she agreed with the chief constable that the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was "not fit for purpose". | Ms Wood, a former probation officer, said she agreed with the chief constable that the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was "not fit for purpose". |
| She also agreed with his view that the UK's drugs strategy was "unwinnable". | She also agreed with his view that the UK's drugs strategy was "unwinnable". |
| "I've seen myself how people are just recycled through the system," she said. | "I've seen myself how people are just recycled through the system," she said. |
| "They go to prison, they come out of prison, they end up continuing using drugs and continuing breaking the law, and that has to change. | "They go to prison, they come out of prison, they end up continuing using drugs and continuing breaking the law, and that has to change. |
| "I think Richard Brunstrom is doing some thinking outside the box on this, which is long over due," she added. | "I think Richard Brunstrom is doing some thinking outside the box on this, which is long over due," she added. |
| But Anglesey MP Albert Owen said he hoped the North Wales Police Authority would reject Mr Brunstrom's recommendations. | But Anglesey MP Albert Owen said he hoped the North Wales Police Authority would reject Mr Brunstrom's recommendations. |
| "I think he's not just thinking outside the box, he's just simply wrong," he said. | "I think he's not just thinking outside the box, he's just simply wrong," he said. |
| "We should have a three-pronged attack which is education, crime enforcement, which is prohibition of hard drugs and also rehabilitation." | "We should have a three-pronged attack which is education, crime enforcement, which is prohibition of hard drugs and also rehabilitation." |
| Last week Mr Brunstrom's views were criticised by Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami who said claiming legalising heroin was the only way forward was "blinkered and dangerous". | Last week Mr Brunstrom's views were criticised by Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami who said claiming legalising heroin was the only way forward was "blinkered and dangerous". |
| Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sergeant said a more sustainable solution would be to tackle the causes of drug abuse. | Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sergeant said a more sustainable solution would be to tackle the causes of drug abuse. |
| In the report before the authority on Monday, Mr Brunstrom writes: "The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 should be repealed and replaced by a new Substance Misuse Act based upon the legalisation and careful regulation of all substances of abuse in one consistent manner." | In the report before the authority on Monday, Mr Brunstrom writes: "The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 should be repealed and replaced by a new Substance Misuse Act based upon the legalisation and careful regulation of all substances of abuse in one consistent manner." |
| His report was prepared in response to the government consultation paper "Drugs: Our community, your say", and the forthcoming Welsh Assembly Government consultation on the all-Wales substance misuse strategy. | His report was prepared in response to the government consultation paper "Drugs: Our community, your say", and the forthcoming Welsh Assembly Government consultation on the all-Wales substance misuse strategy. |
| 'Counsel of despair' | 'Counsel of despair' |
| A spokeswoman for ACPO which represents 44 UK police authorities, said Mr Brunstrom was entitled to his personal views. | A spokeswoman for ACPO which represents 44 UK police authorities, said Mr Brunstrom was entitled to his personal views. |
| "ACPO does not agree with the repeal of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 or the legalisation of drugs - this is arguably a counsel of despair." | "ACPO does not agree with the repeal of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 or the legalisation of drugs - this is arguably a counsel of despair." |
| She added: "Moving to total legalisation would, in our view, greatly exacerbate the harm to people in this country, not reduce it. | She added: "Moving to total legalisation would, in our view, greatly exacerbate the harm to people in this country, not reduce it. |
| "It simply does not make sense to legitimise dangerous narcotic substances which would then have the potential to ruin even more lives and our neighbourhoods." | "It simply does not make sense to legitimise dangerous narcotic substances which would then have the potential to ruin even more lives and our neighbourhoods." |