Simon Hughes MP

TREATMENT NOT PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE PRIORITY FOR DRUG USERS - HUGHES

Wednesday 7 June 2000

Simon Hughes MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, speaking in

advance of Jack Straw's speech on drugs and the criminal justice system

tomorrow at the Social Market Foundation said:

"Tough punishment should be expected by drug dealers and big criminals. But effective treatment not long sentences should be the priority for drug addicts and users.

"It is in everybody's interest that we break the cycle of drugs and crime. All the evidence shows there is great scope for reducing crime through more effective and thorough drug prevention and treatment. Drug treatment

is needed at all stages of the criminal justice system - on arrest, following sentencing, in prison and on release.

"It is absurd that many drug addicts and offenders who seek help are turned away because no treatment is immediately available. There must be national standards with short waiting times for drug treatment everywhere.

"Moving resources from punishing users to preventing abuse is the sort of cost effective policy we need. The sooner we have the intelligent debate about alcohol, drugs and crime and face up to difficult policy questions,

the sooner politicians will catch up with the real world."