“Criminalizing drug users has been an expensive catastrophe for individuals and communities.
War on drugs has failed, say former heads of MI5, CPS and BBC
The "war on drugs" has failed and should be abandoned in favour of
evidence-based policies that treat addiction as a health problem, according
to prominent public figures including former heads of MI5 and the Crown
Prosecution Service.
Drug availability and use has increased with up to 250 million people worldwide using narcotics such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin Photo: PA
Leading peers – including prominent Tories – say that despite governments
worldwide drawing up tough laws against dealers and users over the past 50
years, illegal drugs have become more accessible.
Vast amounts of money have been wasted on unsuccessful crackdowns, while
criminals have made fortunes importing drugs into this country.
The increasing use of the most harmful drugs such as heroin has also led to
“enormous health problems”, according to the group.
It could lead to calls for the British government to decriminalise drugs, or
at least for the police and Crown Prosecution Service not to jail people for
possession of small amounts of banned substances.
Their intervention could receive a sympathetic audience in Whitehall, where
ministers and civil servants are trying to cut the numbers and cost of the
prison population. The Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke, has already announced
plans to help offenders kick drug habits rather than keeping them behind
bars.
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