London

Tony Blair hopes being "tough
on drugs" will be the cure for
post-Iraq election ills.

Seeking Political Traction, Britain's Blair Marches Boldly Backwards on Drug Policy

11/26/04

Facing a general election five months from now, embattled British Prime Minister Tony Blair Tuesday took the opportunity of the annual Queen's Speech to unveil a "tough on crime" drug bill as a centerpiece of his pre-election legislative program. According to British press reports, Blair personally intervened to ensure that the drug bill is one of five measures to be given priority in the coming session of parliament.

Taken together, the five measures -- the drug bill, a national ID bill, a bill to set up a British version of the FBI, a bill to create new powers to ensure cleaner neighborhoods, and a bill to reduce bureaucracy in the schools, along with a bill that would extend the government's ability to hold terrorism suspects without charge -- are a strong signal that Blair will wage a campaign largely based on security and crime control issues. With crack cocaine-related crime on the rise and the British tabloids waxing hysterical about "anti-social behavior," being "tough on drugs" fits in rather nicely to Blair's electoral strategy.

The Blair drug bill would give police new powers to conduct compulsory drug tests on people arrested for minor crimes and would allow for them to be arrested and prosecuted on drug possession charges if they test positive. The bill foresees a rapid expansion in drug treatment capacity to deal with the expected influx of people ordered into treatment after being charged with "internal possession."

Coming the same week as reports that arrests for cannabis consumption have jumped markedly since the herb was reclassified last year as a less serious drug and arrests became optional for police, the Blair drug bill appears to signal a reversal of pro-drug reform policies and attitudes, at least in the Labor Party's campaign strategy.

While the drug bill has the support of Prime Minister Blair and his political advisors, who reportedly see it as key to playing on British voters' concerns about crime and "anti-social behavior," it is being attacked by drug reformers, police officials, public health specialists, opposition politicians, and even some members of the Blair team.

sources : http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/364/blair.shtml

 

The challenges facing London London is a young city. Over half of young Londoners drink excessively on a regular basis, and have tried an illegal drug. 1 in 10 young Londoners has tried cocaine. Over 1 in 4 of England's problem drug users live in London. Twice as many people in London are dependent on alcohol than on drugs. Alcohol is implicated in 40 per cent of the violent crime committed in London. At least 1 in 4 admissions to Accident and Emergency in London are due to alcohol. 1 in 3 cases of acquisitive crime in London are committed by drug users. The prevalence of Hepatitis C and HIV amongst drug users is higher in London than anywhere else in Englan