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'Legalise drugs' call considered 'Legalise drugs' report supported
(about 4 hours later)
North Wales Police Authority is to meet to decide whether it will support a campaign by its chief constable for drugs to be legalised. North Wales Police Authority has backed a review of drug laws after its chief constable urged legalisation.
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 asked the authority to back his calls to scrap current laws, 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". While it agreed to support the report - to go to the Home Secretary as part of UK-wide consultation, it stopped short of calling to scrap current laws.
Mr Brunstrom's report has provoked a mixed reception from politicians. A senior police officers' body called legalisation "a counsel of despair".
The chair of the North Wales Police Authority, Ian Roberts, has said there will be a "full and frank debate" on the issue. Mr Brunstrom called the fight against drugs unwinnable but said he did not want "an anarchic free-for-all".
Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood told BBC Wales' Politics Show that Mr Brunstrom was right to raise the issue. He said there was a battle with "the flat earthers" who refused to look at the evidence suggesting drugs laws need a radical change.
I think he's not just thinking outside the box, he's just simply wrong Albert Owen MPI think he's not just thinking outside the box, he's just simply wrong Albert Owen MP
The chief constable said his report was not a "crusade or proactive - it is a response based on a degree of radicalism".
The authority agreed that his report should go to the UK Government and the Welsh Assembly Government, which is about to conduct its own drugs consultation.
It also said there should be a review of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with the possible replacement of a Misuse of Substances Act regulating all drugs, including nicotine and alcohol based on a new hierarchy of harm.
The authority further agreed to consider affiliation with the lobby group Transform Drug Policy Foundation.
Before the meeting, Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood told BBC Wales' Politics Show that Mr Brunstrom was right to raise the issue.
'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".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. Richard Brunstrom says he doesn't want 'an anarchic free-for-all'"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 overdue," she added."I think Richard Brunstrom is doing some thinking outside the box on this, which is long overdue," she added.
But Anglesey MP Albert Owen said he hoped the authority would reject Mr Brunstrom's recommendations. But Anglesey MP Albert Owen had said he hoped the 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."
'Counsel of despair''Counsel of despair'
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." Earlier, a spokeswoman for Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) which represents 44 UK police authorities, said Mr Brunstrom was entitled to his personal views.
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.
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."