Police chief's radical drugs call

Welcome To

Police chief’s radical drugs call

This topic is empty.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 16 total)

1 2 →

Author

Posts
June 27, 2007 at 12:29 pm

#676140
1

Raj

@raj

Member
bbc.co.uk wrote:

The Chief Constable of Tayside Police has called for a radical approach in tackling drug-related crime in a bid to reduce demand for Class A drugs.

John Vine wants to look at whether the criminal justice system could be used to provide alternative treatment for addicts rather than locking them up.

He said the set-up of drug courts or even prescribing Class A drugs to offenders could possibly be solutions.

The force’s annual report shows heroin seizures in Tayside have tripled.

Mr Vine said that his force can continue to produce good figures but that would be a short-term measure.

We need to talk to politicians and health authorities to see whether we can do something differently to reduce the demand for Class A drugs

He now wants to start a dialogue with politicians and the health authorities in a bid to provide a long-term solution.

Mr Vine told BBC Scotland: “I don’t think we are winning the war against drugs just by enforcement alone.

“We need to continue that effort and reassure communities that we are going to be there for them but we also need to talk to politicians and health authorities to see whether we can do something differently to reduce the demand for Class A drugs.

“I would like to see, for example, drugs courts being set up in the area and would also like to see possibly some debate about whether prescribing Class A drugs might be something the health authorities might consider.”

Mr Vine said he realised such proposals may not be socially acceptable but something needed to be done rather than simply imprisoning people only for them to get out and immediately re-offend.

There are no firm statistics but it is believed that three quarters of what is termed acquisitive crime is drug related.

Mr Vine added: “There are people who will have a view as to whether this would be socially acceptable or whether this would have any chance of working.

“I would like this force and this police area to be a pilot area for any initiative which might be regarded as innovative or risky which could be evaluated by experts to see whether we can reduce demand for acquisitive crime.”

Tayside Police Force’s annual report was published on Monday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/6236706.stm

He has my support – well done for having the courage to come out and say it too raaaraaaraaa
June 27, 2007 at 4:08 pm

#731268
1

cathdreadhead

@cathdreadhead

Member
hmmm..prisons are overcrowding.. is it to do with that I wonder?
June 27, 2007 at 4:26 pm

#731262
1

Tank Girl

@tank-girl

Member
prescribing is IMHO the only way to go for H
June 27, 2007 at 4:34 pm

#731263
1

MisterDuck

@misterduck

Member
all-round decriminalisation i reckon raaa
June 27, 2007 at 5:50 pm

#731255
6

General Lighting

@general-lighting

Moderator
Staff
boothy wrote:

all-round decriminalisation i reckon raaa

agreed, but its gonna be up to your generation to self-regulate themselves better than many in my generation did before there’s any progress…
June 27, 2007 at 6:25 pm

#731266
1

Playground Politics

@playground-politics

Member
reclassification of substances, ranked on different topics, such as danger of death, addiction(include cigarettes!), and others
June 27, 2007 at 6:54 pm

#731264
1

MisterDuck

@misterduck

Member
General Lighting wrote:

agreed, but its gonna be up to your generation to self-regulate themselves better than many in my generation did before there’s any progress…

i couldn’t say whether we’d do that or not. i mean, i know loadsa people my age who manage it and use drugs with loads and loads of responsibility, i reckon i aint too bad goin nowadays…

but on the other hand, there are also a large percentage of dicks, recently up here, crack has become an easily available drug at my secondary school. thankfully most drug users know better, but there have been a few who have tried it, at 14-16!

i’d say its like, a 50/50 split at the moment, maybe more optomistic 65/35 to responsibility.
June 27, 2007 at 6:58 pm

#731265
1

MisterDuck

@misterduck

Member
Playground Politics wrote:

reclassification of substances, ranked on different topics, such as danger of death, addiction(include cigarettes!), and others

yeah, like this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5230006.stm

unfortunately it seemed to be pushed aside :you_crazy

i mean, why the fuck is ecstasy a class A? is’s killed 200 people in 11 years, compared to booze that is feck all! it also doesn’t encourage violence etc.
June 27, 2007 at 7:08 pm

#731256
6

General Lighting

@general-lighting

Moderator
Staff
boothy wrote:

i couldn’t say whether we’d do that or not. i mean, i know loadsa people my age who manage it and use drugs with loads and loads of responsibility, i reckon i aint too bad goin nowadays…

but on the other hand, there are also a large percentage of dicks, recently up here, crack has become an easily available drug at my secondary school. thankfully most drug users know better, but there have been a few who have tried it, at 14-16!

i’d say its like, a 50/50 split at the moment, maybe more optomistic 65/35 to responsibility.

I think its got very slightly better (as one generation gives a bit of advice to another) and there is more awareness from sites like this and even some conventional youth organisations are fairly good nowadays.

But progress IMO is still not quick enough, compared to the growth in surveillance, scrutiny and monitoring of our effects on society by the other side.

The situation you describe doesn’t sound all that different from the situation I was in as a teenager back in 1987-1989 when I first became interested in drugs/drug culture and taking the substances myself

so 20 years and not that much progress really. I do think less people are doing heroin these days, but crack is still a problem in the inner cities, cocaine binges are more popular there are more binge drinkers and problematic ketamine users nowadays, plus people who do too much pills/MD and get into trouble on comedowns (often midweek arguments erupting into violence)

I think people do realise they have a problem a bit quicker but they also do “too much too young” and when they have burned out some even end up supporting prohibition for all rather than accepting that it was their own lack of self control that was the problem.
June 27, 2007 at 7:16 pm

#731258
1

Raj

@raj

Member
General Lighting wrote:

I think people do realise they have a problem a bit quicker but they also do “too much too young” and when they have burned out some even end up supporting prohibition for all rather than accepting that it was their own lack of self control that was the problem.

Always easier to blame someone/something else than accept personal responsibility?
June 27, 2007 at 7:48 pm

#731259
1

Raj

@raj

Member
bbc.co.uk wrote:

An MSP has urged the Scottish government to consider supporting a buy-up of Afghanistan’s opium crop.

Nationalist Bill Wilson has submitted a motion calling for the issue to be investigated as part of a “national and international drugs and crime policy”.

Dr Wilson acknowledged the move would be controversial but claimed the current policy of destroying Afghan opium crops was counter-productive.

He also said that such a scheme would require international funding.

A UN report published on Monday found that 90% of the world’s supply of opium was produced in Afghanistan.

The West of Scotland MSP suggested that buying the crop rather than destroying it could be “highly cost-effective” in promoting peace within Afghanistan and the safety of British armed forces who are involved in hostile action with the Taleban.

Alongside this, it could cut domestic crime and treat heroin addicts, he added.

He said: “In Afghanistan desperately poor people rely on opium as a cash crop.

“I understand that merely attempting to destroy the crops is not only ineffective in that vast and inaccessible country but also counter-productive in that it fosters bitterness and resentment.”

The MSP said that if the drugs crop was bought it could be used to make medical heroin for prescribing to addicts or for use in the NHS and he urged the matter to be brought before parliament.

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said: “Of course there must be international co-operation to tackle the supply of drugs.

“We will contribute to this. In Scotland we are keenly focussed on supporting the police in their efforts to crack down on the drugs trade.”

The politician’s motion came after Tayside Police Chief Constable John Vine called for addicts to be given heroin free on the NHS.

The real issue is reducing dependency and dramatically cutting the number of addicts

Mr Vine said the time was right for a debate on “socially unacceptable options” to tackle heroin abuse and its impact on crime.

In response, Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing said there were currently no plans in Scotland for prescribing class A drugs for long-term addicts.

However, he said he agreed with Mr Vine that there must be “a coherent policy that detains in prison the dangerous in our society, but looks to treat the troubled – like those on drugs”.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6242298.stm
June 27, 2007 at 7:49 pm

#731260
1

Raj

@raj

Member
Here is some background information on the Afghan end of the problem…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6222200.stm
June 28, 2007 at 12:29 am

#731261
1

marcusblanc

@marcusblanc

Member
Now here is a policeman that i have some time for…
June 28, 2007 at 7:28 am

#731269
1

DoubleDrop

@doubledrop

Member
:weee: i think that they should well not prescribe but find another solution to sending addicts to prison, if they rob and possibly injur or worse end up killing someone to support their habbit then fair enough lock them up for abit but thats just the law but if you were to classify drugs by weather they affect you in a way that would cause trouble to the public, and social impact, and not by what ‘ people in power ‘ think mind you half the government/ ‘ people in charge ‘ has tried most of the drugs and i think thats why they are re-thinking this approach, they know there are plenty worse things to be getting on with, like terroism,immigration,peodo’s etc etc i reckon 95% of drugs users are your everyday people you would bump into on the street i know most of the peole i know and call as friends have respectable jobs and even one of my friends parents who i have smoked with in the past has even talked about growing his own and he works on top secret things for a major company and earns a right $$$$$ but fiar play he worked hard, sorry about going off subject but erm yeh not all drugs/drug users are bad ……:bounce_fl
June 28, 2007 at 11:23 am

#731267
1

Playground Politics

@playground-politics

Member
by drug addicts, do we just mean heroin/cocaine/crack users?? (not ket heads, XTC addicts, or weed smokers)
Author

Posts

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 16 total)

1 2 →

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.