editorial comment paraphernalia notices that the USA used to be a colony of the UK. It seems like a sad role reversal....

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 £480 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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