Treat drug addicts as victims and not offenders, say cops

DRUG addicts could avoid prosecution after police chiefs declared that users should be regarded as victims rather than criminals.

In a report to a new drugs strategy board – set up by public authorities including the Scottish Government, NHS and Police Scotland – Chief Constable Iain Livingstone advised treating substance abuse as a public health issue.

Its first meeting was on March 9 and it will ‘consider innovative solutions in addressing the continued and significant level of drug deaths’, according to the report.

One such solution could mean a Norway-style approach is adopted, where addicts can enrol in recovery programmes rather than receive punishment.

Scotland had 1,187 drug deaths in 2018 – the highest rate in Europe and three times that of the UK.

During lockdown there has been an increase in fatal overdoses, with deaths since March higher than in the same period last year.

Last night, Dr Ian Oliver, a former Grampian Police chief constable and drugs expert, said there was ‘an obligation to protect citizens’, adding: ‘The compassionate and sensible method must be to do everything possible to reduce drug dependency and misuse, not to encourage or facilitate it.’

Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘Families and communities are destroyed by drug use and the crime and poverty that accompanies it. Decriminalisation, whether by the front or the back door, is simply not a solution.’

There have been more than 35,000 drug offences in Scotland in the past year – up 3.6 per cent.

But Police Scotland’s annual assessment of policing performance 2019-20 and quarterly report states: ‘While there is a continuing role for police in terms of enforcing the law, there is a wider recognition that drug users are victims and that wide-ranging support from a variety of agencies is needed to help people combat addiction.’ Mr Kerr said: ‘The police are clearly taking a thoughtful approach to this issue but they must have resources to be able to find and charge gangs and individuals who peddle this poison.’

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie, head of ‘partnerships, preties vention and community wellbeing’, said: ‘We are committed to reducing the tragic impact of drugs on individuals, families and communiin Scotland. The reasons behind substance misuse are complex and a strong partnership approach is required if we are to provide longterm, sustainable solutions.

‘The Drugs Death Taskforce established by the Scottish Government in July 2019 presents an ongoing opportunity for experts to examine this issue and consider what can be done. We will continue to target drug dealers through intelligence-gathering as well as operational activity.’

Critics say some of Scotland’s most vicious thugs and killers might now be regarded as ‘victims’ under drugs strategies set out by Police Scotland. ‘Breathtakingly wicked’ Sandra Weir was jailed for 21 years after murdering her elderly neighbour in Leven, Fife, in 2016. Heroin addict Weir had been draining 82-year-old Mary Logie’s bank account to fund her habit.

In 2018, thug Jonathan McGregor from Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, was under the influence of drugs when he broke into a house and assaulted a man with a machete – threatening to chop off his hand. He demanded money and drugs and stole a car.

At Airdrie Sheriff Court last year his solicitor said that a drug testing and treatment order was ‘not an easy option’ as McGregor had not engaged with one previously.

He was jailed for 30 months.

‘Reduce drug misuse, not encourage it’