Police chief's drugs remedy 'a counsel of despair'

Oct 13 2007 icWales

A police chief who called for the legalisation of all drugs has been criticised by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

An ACPO spokeswoman said Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom’s view were “a counsel of despair”.

Writing on his weblog, Mr Brunstrom, the Chief Constable of North Wales, said the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was “not fit for purpose” and “immoral” and urged its repeal.

He also described the current UK drugs strategy as “unwinnable” in a report to the North Wales Police Authority.

A spokeswoman for ACPO said the organisation, which represents 44 police authorities across the UK, would be meeting the government shortly to discuss drugs strategy.

She said: “On October 9 CC Brunstrom, through his blog, launched a campaign to legalise drugs and abolish the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. These are his personal views, to which he is entitled.

“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. 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.”

In his report to the North Wales Police Authority, Mr Brunstrom said: “The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 should be repealed and replaced by a new Substance Misuse Act based upon the legalisation and careful regulation of all substances of abuse in one consistent manner.”

Mr Brunstrom’s call was also criticised by shadow Home Secretary David Davis who said he did not agree the fight against drugs was unwinnable.

But Danny Kushlick, a director of the charity Transform Drug Policy Foundation, praised Mr Brunstrom for showing “great leadership and imagination”.

The chief constable, who was appointed in 2001, has attracted criticism for his support of speed cameras and his tough stance against speeding motorists.

Earlier this year he authorised a road safety campaign which included a picture of a dying father of three, Mark Gibney.

It later emerged he had not obtained permission from Mr Gibney’s relatives to use the images.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission’s investigation into the use of the pictures is due to conclude this month.

A Downing Street website petition urging the Prime Minister to sack Mr Brunstrom has gained more than 3,500 signatures.