News / Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Problems with illegal drugs ‘as bad as they’ve ever been’
The region’s top police officer has admitted the force is “losing the war on drugs”.
Avon & Somerset chief constable Andy Marsh said problems caused by illegal substances were “as bad as they have ever been” and that officers were targeting dealers causing the most harm and preying on vulnerable people.
Both he and the police and crime commissioner (PCC) Sue Mountstevens highlighted the harm caused by “lethal” strength cannabis that leaves users “messed up”, as they reaffirmed their opposition to legalising the class-B drug.
is needed now More than ever
At a PCC and police public forum at Bristol’s Trinity Centre, Marsh said: “Are we winning the war on the illegal drugs trade? We are not.
“We’ve got problems probably as bad as they’ve ever been.
“We are a very progressive force with how we deal with drugs.
“If they get caught with a small amount of possession, they don’t go to court and they don’t go to prison. They get a chance at some education.
“Having spent a lifetime in law enforcement, I’ve met with some very troubled people.
“Cannabis seems to find a way of either attracting or harming people with mental ill-health.
“I’ve seen drugs really mess people up horribly.
“Anything other than a complete free-for-all in a drugs-legal market would create a black market.
“I don’t believe it could be legalised.
“Internationally there has been a lot of experimentation about this but nobody has found the silver bullet that if you legalise it, everything is going to be okay.”
He said cannabis was now “lethally strong” compared with previous decades.
“We simply haven’t got the enforcement capability to force the drug problem out, so we focus on people exploiting vulnerable children and causing the most harm,” Marsh said.
“If you’ve got a drug dealer in your street, your street is going to be a horrible, miserable place to live.
“It causes me great concern. We have a very significant problem which we cannot possibly enforce alone.”
Andy Marsh says 100 additional officers will help in targeting the most dangerous drug dealers
He said the force’s forthcoming Operation Remedy, with 100 extra police officers paid for by a £24 average council tax rise, would make a “big splash” in targeting the most dangerous drug dealers but that it would also protect victims by working in partnership with other organisations.
Mountstevens told the meeting last week: “We try to keep many of our young people out of the criminal justice system.
“We know once people have got a label then it’s a much more slippery slope.
“We have a drug education programme which is a bit like a speed awareness course.
“If caught with a small amount of drugs, you can go on this programme. Hundreds of people have done that.”
She said discussions had taken place with Bristol City Council to provide heroin assisted treatment rooms to deal with addicts medically as patients but that it cost £40,000 per person, and the Home Office had so far refused to fund them.
“Although I’m keen on exploring heroin assisted treatment rooms, I’m not persuaded yet about drug consumption rooms,” Mountstevens said.
“I’ve seen too much damage. I’m very close to drug addiction within my family and I know the impact. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.
“We all know the arguments that you wouldn’t legalise alcohol if we were starting again, but we’re not starting again.”
Adam Postans is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
Read more: Time to transform the UK’s drug laws
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