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Police chief who'd legalise heroin gets top drugs job: Officer wants to introduce safe 'consumption rooms' for addicts
By CHRIS GREENWOOD
15 April 2016
A chief constable who wants to legalise drugs has been charged with overseeing how officers tackle the menace nationwide.
Mike Barton believes some Class A and B drugs should be made legal and, in some cases, handed out for free to addicts.
Despite his controversial views, the officer has now been quietly elected to an influential role at the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
The move provoked fury from critics who warned legalising drugs would simply create a new set of challenges.
Mr Barton was elected to lead ‘crime operations’ by his peers, replacing respected Merseyside chief Sir Jon Murphy.
The officer, from Durham Constabulary, has campaigned to introduce ‘consumption rooms’ where addicts can inject drugs in safety.
He also wants drugs including cocaine, heroin and cannabis to be legalised.
Simon Stephens, of Addictions UK, warned any move to decriminalise cannabis would have dire results. ‘Legalisation will simply change the nature of the problem,’ he said.
cont http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-consumption-rooms-addicts.html#ixzz461p6diPB
By CHRIS GREENWOOD
15 April 2016
A chief constable who wants to legalise drugs has been charged with overseeing how officers tackle the menace nationwide.
Mike Barton believes some Class A and B drugs should be made legal and, in some cases, handed out for free to addicts.
Despite his controversial views, the officer has now been quietly elected to an influential role at the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
The move provoked fury from critics who warned legalising drugs would simply create a new set of challenges.
Mr Barton was elected to lead ‘crime operations’ by his peers, replacing respected Merseyside chief Sir Jon Murphy.
The officer, from Durham Constabulary, has campaigned to introduce ‘consumption rooms’ where addicts can inject drugs in safety.
He also wants drugs including cocaine, heroin and cannabis to be legalised.
Simon Stephens, of Addictions UK, warned any move to decriminalise cannabis would have dire results. ‘Legalisation will simply change the nature of the problem,’ he said.
cont http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-consumption-rooms-addicts.html#ixzz461p6diPB
