Police Chief: 'Make Class A Drugs Legal'

[Jazzy]

Durham's chief constable has called for class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine to be legalized.

Mike Barton has claimed the war on drugs has failed and decriminalization is the best way to strip power away from criminal gangs.

Writing in The Observer, the national intelligence leader for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) also suggested the NHS should supply class A drugs to addicts.

"Not all crime gangs raise income through selling drugs, but most of them do in my experience," Mr Barton said.

"So offering an alternative route of supply to users cuts off the gang's income stream.

"If an addict were able to access drugs via the NHS or some similar organisation, then they would not have to go out and buy illegal drugs.

"Drugs should be controlled. They should not, of course, be freely available.

"I think addiction to anything - drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc - is not a good thing, but outright prohibition hands revenue streams to villains."

Under Mr Barton's direction, Durham Constabulary launched Operation Sledgehammer, a sustained campaign to "get in the faces" of organised crime gangs.

He has previously claimed to seek inspiration in the way notorious Prohibition-era gangster Al Capone was finally brought down not for bootlegging, but tax evasion.

Mr Barton, who has served for nearly 34 years, said he had witnessed a worsening drug addiction problem since prohibition began in 1971 with the Misuse of Drugs Act.

He argued that pushers had made billions from adulterated drugs, transforming them into local folk heroes for young people.

"Decriminalizing their commodity will immediately cut off their income stream and destroy their power," he said.

"Making drugs legal would tackle the supply chain much more effectively and much more economically than we can currently manage."

Full article

Do you think Class A drugs should be legalized? Why/Why not?

 

[DrLeftover]

In the UK only:

Class A drugs
These include heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and LSD.

If found guilty by a court of law of possessing Class A drugs you could go to prison for up to seven years and fined.

If you sell Class A drugs you could receive a life imprisonment.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_2120000/newsid_2120400/2120454.stm

 

[Crusader]

It's a messy subject. Just like weed.

 

[Nebulous]

Sure why not? The police need to protect us from real crimes / danger, not from people destroying their own bodies.

 

[DrLeftover]

Oh, yes, they must be made legal....

September 30, 2013

MILL VALLEY (KPIX 5) — LSD was being blamed for a wild and violent ending to a house party in Mill Valley over the weekend.

Paramedics were initially called to a home on the 100 block of Reed Boulevard around 7:30 a.m. Sunday on a report of a male juvenile having a seizure, according to Lt. Doug Pittman.

The 911 caller reported the boy had taken “acid” or LSD during a party at the residence overnight, Pittman said.

Firefighters and paramedics were greeted at the gate of the residence by a male subject who was covered in blood and refused to allow them on to the property, Pittman said.

The subject, who appeared to be under the influence, became combative and allegedly began to attack the firefighters with what they later described as “superhuman strength,” prompting a call for help from the sheriff’s office, Pittman said.

The first deputy on the scene attempted to assist, but was confronted by more party goers, including a female who also allegedly became combative, Pittman said.

In all, sheriff’s deputies and personnel from five other law enforcement agencies responded to the scene before the area was secured, Pittman said.

Paramedics were eventually able to assist the boy who had originally been reported as having a seizure.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/09/30/blood-covered-teen-attacks-paramedics-responding-to-mill-valley-lsd-house-party/

 

[Sinon]

I'm not so sure it's a good idea. Think about it. If they're legalized, that means taxation. That means prices for the regulated stuff will be much higher than the prices a street corner dealer will offer.

The majority of addicts already commit crime to fund their addictions, I don't see how raising the amount of money they need to score a hit will reduce crime.