Source: The Times, London, UK http://www.thetimes.co.uk/
Contact: editor@thetimes.co.uk

Drugs inquiry to steer clear of legalisation

BY RICHARD FORD, HOME CORRESPONDENT

AN INQUIRY into Britain's drug laws is unlikely to recommend the
legalisation of illicit substances because it would prove too
controversial for politicians.

Members of the independent inquiry, which was set up by the Police
Foundation, will put forward a number of possible changes to the law
but only if there is consensus among the committee. It will then
outline the implications, including the effects on international
treaties and the cost to social, health and criminal justice budgets.

Barry Irving, director of the foundation, said that any reform would
have to attract a broad church of support. However he added: "It is
really necessary to look at policy alternatives and at the
implications of policy alternatives. That is not being done because
everybody is skirting round it."

The foundation, an independent charity, was created in 1979 to provide
research on the effectiveness of policing and police relations with
the community. Dr Irving, a forensic psychologist, said last night
that the twoyear inquiry had been set up after the Association of
Chief Police Officers called for more research into the effects of
decriminalisation of drugs.

The inquiry is to be headed by Viscountess Runciman of Doxford, a
former chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and now
chairman of the Mental Health Act Commission. Although she is not on
record as having expressed any view about decriminalising drugs, she
backs a more realistic approach towards dealing with them. She has
admitted that containment rather than elimination of drug misuse is a
more realistic objective and she supports a wider use of harm
reduction measures, including the provision of water at raves where
teenagers could take Ecstasy.

Lady Runciman has been the key figure in attracting people to serve on
the inquiry team and has previously worked with several of its
members. They are Simon Jenkins, former Editor of The Times; Alan
Maynard, professor of economics at York University; Leonard Murray,
consultant with Levy and McRae, solicitors in Glasgow; Denis O'Connor,
Assistant Commissioner for southwest London; Michael Trace, director
of the Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust; Rudi Forston,
barrister and author of Misuse of Drugs and Drug Trafficking Offences;
John Hamilton, Chief Constable of Fife; David Nutt, head of mental
health psychopharmacology unit at Bristol University; Geoffrey
Pearson, Wates professor of social work at Goldsmith College, London;
Annette Zera, principal, Tower Hamlets College, London; Bernard
Williams, Monroe Deutsch Professor of Philosophy, University of
California, Berkeley.