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'Legalise drugs' report supported | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
North Wales Police Authority has backed a review of drug laws after its chief constable urged legalisation. | |
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. | |
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. | |
A senior police officers' body called legalisation "a counsel of despair". | |
Mr Brunstrom called the fight against drugs unwinnable but said he did not want "an anarchic free-for-all". | |
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 MP | I 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. |
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 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. |
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. | |
"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." |