Police crime boss Arfon Jones says the legalisation of all drugs should be considered
North Wales Crime Commissioner says new approach needed as war on drug crime has 'totally failed'
North Wales police boss Arfon Jones today called for the legalisation of all drugs to be considered.
The region’s Crime Commissioner believes the war on drug crime “has totally failed” and a new approach now needs to be taken.
Mr Jones believes if they were legalised, it would take drugs out of the control of criminals and allow addicts to have more support.
“I believe we have to look at the legalisation of all drugs, like they do in Portugal and it is something that needs to be considered,” said Mr Jones, who has also backed people using cannabis for medicinal use.
“The war on drugs has totally failed and we need to look at a new approach.
“All it has done is push drug use into criminality and put the control in the hands of criminals.
“It is a public health issue and should be dealt with this way with support for people.”
Mr Jones’s views are likely to reignite the controversial debate started by former North Wales chief constable Richard Brunstrom who believed hard drugs should be legalised.
Recently the Crime Commissioner and Gwynedd council leader Dyfed Edwards supported the idea of ‘fix rooms’ where addicts can go to inject safely and which are being trialled in Glasgow.
Their comments came as the Daily Post revealed a shocking image of a man injecting in a public toilet near Caernarfon bus station.
There are also growing concerns Wrexham is being overrun by open drug abuse around the town after 250,000 needles were handed out in 2015/16. Many ended up discarded on the streets.
Reports of addicts injecting at the bus station in North Wales largest town, collapsing on the pavements and leaving “drug litter” strewn around the town have seen a worrying increase in recent months.
It has prompted three Wrexham councillors Phil Wynn, Steve Wilson and David I Bithell, to launch a petition calling for action.
They want to see more police on the streets and reviews of the needle exchange system for addicts and the policy on so-called Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs), where they say drug users can congregate.
Cllr Wynn said: “In the last couple of years we have seen an increase in people coming into the town taking drugs, alcohol and legal highs and they can congregate around the bus station and Lord Street.
Cllr Wilson added: “It can be quite intimidating for people and the elderly are saying they feel threatened at night and don’t want to go to the shops.
“I thought a needle exchange was one for one, but apparently that is not how it works. But we are seeing more needles on the streets and I’m worried somebody or a child could pick them up and get injured.”
Police chiefs have recently launched a crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Rhosddu, Wrexham, which has been particularly hit by problems and appointed another constable to the town centre, in response.
A North Wales Police spokesman said: “We are highlighting, via social media, the work that is ongoing and has been ongoing for some considerable time and we’re continuing to work with partners to address the issues.”
A Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board spokesman said needle exchange schemes were run in accordance with national guidelines to stop diseases spreading including HIV, and Hepatitis B and C.
Users were also encouraged to return needles.
“However, it is recognised that there are some circumstances where a service user does not have any equipment to return – and we would not refuse to provide injecting equipment in this situation,” the spokesman said.
“The evidence demonstrates that ensuring drug users have access to clean needles and syringes reduces the incidence of sharing.”
Wrexham Council chiefs said they had recently introduced a licensing scheme for HMOs to ensure they are fit for use.
Unlimited fines or enforcement action can be taken if the owners fail to have a licence or comply with conditions.
A council spokesman added all landlords were required to register and take training if they manage the property
.http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/consider-legalising-drugs-says-police-12238396
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