Magnificent Words On Drugs Policy From Chief Constable Barton.
Chief Constable of Durham, Mike Barton
These brave and intelligent words were published today in The Observer by Chief Constable Mike Barton of Durham Constabulary.
Other senior police officers have spoken out before. Internationally, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition represents those who, at the sharp end, know that current drugs policy is nonsense. Mike Barton has a fresh insight and realistic approach.
These practical men shame our cowardly, self-serving politicians. Aside from individual MPs working for their constituents, ministers cower in fear at even discussing reform.
Chief Constable Barton is the sort of leader we need.
Peter Reynolds 
It’s rare for a senior police officer to talk this much sense.He must be retiring soon!
He is correct as the war on drugs is not going well and can’t be won in the long term.
jaded48
September 29, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Is’ nt it amazing that it has taken the best part of 50 years for this guy to realise the truth that I and many others could have told him in the 60’s. But he and others like him criminalised us back in the days when pubs closed at 10.30 and alcohol was only available from off-licences. It was obvious back then that prohibition of cannabis and other drugs would lead to the involvement of criminal gangs. To me the criminals who should locked up are criminals who pasted the stupid drug laws, and that have been in bed with the booze industry, big pharma and the aggro-chemical since the 50, s.
Nigel Outten
September 29, 2013 at 6:14 pm
err theres something wrong here there was atleast 4 – 6 other comments the other day seems if you dont like it or if its not what you want to hear you scrap it even if its a valid argument with you being dead against public campaigns just another conman in a suit.
(see how long this comments allowed to be up for)
danny
September 29, 2013 at 9:29 pm
my apologies wrong news story
danny
September 29, 2013 at 9:34 pm