US police chief to dismiss Irish drugs strategy

A FORMER US head of police will tell a conference of Irish drug awareness groups that the “war on drugs” was a waste of time and resources.

Jerry Cameron, who spent most of his career in the anti-narcotics branch of the police, will argue the huge amount of resources diverted to the “drugs war” would be far better spent on promoting drugs awareness.

Mr Cameron is spokesperson for LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), a group made up of former law enforcers who believe western governments have failed to tackle the drugs problem because of misguided policy.

He will be the key speaker at a conference, Rethinking the War on Drugs, jointly organised by the charity Merchants Quay Ireland, the Irish Penal Reform Trust and UISCE (Union for Improved Services Education and Communication), a group partly made up of former and current drug users.

The conference comes just days after Minister of State Noel Ahern said that Ireland was not winning the war on drugs, and that “not every war is winnable”.

“Mr Ahern’s comments reflect the reality that drug problems have always existed and it is unrealistic to think that the world can be rid of drugs,” said Tony Geoghegan, director of Merchant’s Quay Ireland.

“It is much more pragmatic to say that a greater emphasis needs to be placed on social and health resources in combating the effects of drugs and the Government’s policy should reflect that, instead of going for populist, simplistic and unachievable aims.”

Rick Lines, director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust said the conference provides an opportunity to debate the Government’s drug strategy. He described the international war on drugs that has been waged over the past 30 years as a failure.

“The use of illegal drugs has never been more prevalent, our prisons have never been more full and drug-related health concerns, such as HIV and Hepatitis C infections, continue to grow across the world.

“Jerry Cameron’s visit provides an opportunity to hear about these failures first hand from a former law enforcement official who has been on the front lines of waging this war.”