Source: Daily Mail (UK)
contact : letters@dailymail.co.uk

Charles backs inquiry into softening drug laws

by Steve Doughty, Social Affairs Correspondent

Prince Charles has personally approved a highpowered inquiry into drugs
which is likely to propose sweeping reforms of the law.

The inquiry, set up by the influential Police Foundation think tank, will
examine the possibility of making drug use legal in an attempt to end the
spiral of crime and misery surrounding dealers and users.

The Prince, who is president of the foundation, gave his assent to the
investigation and approved the use of cash from his Prince's Trust charity
to pay for it.

The inquiry, to be conducted by a 13strong committee including lawyers,
academics and senior police officers, has been likened to an unofficial
Royal commission.

The involvement of the Prince, who has developed strong links with the Blair
Government, will heighten speculation that the findings will be taken
seriously by Ministers.

Heading the inquiry will be Viscountess Runciman, a member of a Government
drugs advice quango and deputy chairman of the Prison Reform Trust.

Her brief is to examine the 26yaer old Misuse of Drugs Act and consider
whether it needs reform.

The Prince has made clear his view that drug abuse is connected to other
social ills, including poor housing and unemployment.

He has pushed for 'holistic' solutions to deal with all the aspects of the
problem. His ideas may well accord with some of the new committee's thinking.

Viscountess Runciman said yesterday that the inquiry would consider
decriminalising drugs. 'Yes, it includes that question never properly
defined as far as I can see, nor indeed is legalisation as yet properly
defined. That would be one of the tasks ahead of us,' she told Today on
radio 4.

She said the inquiry was partly a response to politicians not addressing the
issues. 'It has certainly been devised to fulfill what is a clear need in
terms of public debate.'

Politicians regard discussing drugs laws as risky, particularly since
International Development Secretary Clare Short ran into trouble in
opposition for talking about legalising cannabis.

Some police chiefs feel a vacuum has developed, and Bedfordshire Chief
Constable Michael O'Byrne has called for a full drugs debate.

The Police Foundation can attack the political difficulties without worrying
about the possible backlash that would face any official investigation.

Viscountess Runciman said: 'The inquiry is not a lobbying exercise on behalf
of any positions on the subject. It is certainly not a covert attempt to
smooth the path to legislation. Neither is it s device designed to bolster
a law that may be perceived as failing to best serve those it is meant to
assist.'

The Police Foundation was set up in 1980 by police chiefs, senior civil
servants, lawyers and businessmen to develop thinking about police methods
and organisation.