Radical Changes Needed To Drugs Laws - Baker

The drugs laws in the UK need to radical changes, MP and Liberal Democrat Norman Baker announced today.

His call comes as the government publishes a major report on drugs policies around the world.

The report finds that tough criminal sentences for drug users makes no difference to the rates of drug use.

The Home Office's 'Drugs, International Comparators' study looked at different approaches to drugs policy and treatment in a number of countries including some from countries that have harsh criminal sanctions for users and some that have effectively decriminalised the possession of drugs.

Welcoming the report, Local MP and Lib Dem Home Office Minister Norman Baker said its findings show that the government needs to follow the evidence and be brave enough to change the drug laws in the UK.

The Lib Dems want to crack down on the criminal gangs that supply illegal drugs but advocate scrapping prison sentences for people whose only crime is possession of drugs. They advocate directing those who suffer from drug addiction towards the health treatment and education they need, moving the responsibility for the Government's drugs policy from the Home Office to the Department of Health.

He said: "The Lib Dems believe drugs policy should be based on evidence, not dogma or the desire to sound tough. If you are anti-drugs you should be pro-reform.

"It's time for a radical change in British drugs policy. The fact is we should spend more time and effort cracking down on the Mr Bigs' and criminal gangs who traffic drugs than users and addicts who should be helped to recover, not put behind bars."

(CD/IT)