"The Question of Drugs"

Keith Hellawell, Former Government Drugs Tsar and Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police Force, came to Bradford Law School on 18th November 2002 to discuss this burning issue.

Role of Drugs Tsar

"Despite media reports that I had been given the job of Drugs Tsar in 1998 following a personal invitation from Tony Blair, I was actually selected for the prestigious role following stringent shortlisting of 254 applicants.

Upon appointment, I faced media queries regarding my qualifications for the job, as a former police chief whom they branded a right wing reactionary. However, this was not my style, as I saw no simple solution to drugs."

The issues

"As I took up my appointment, the overriding political view was that the correct policy to deal with drugs was via the criminal justice system. Indeed, in 1998 law and order absorbed 63% of the budget allocated to solve the drug problem. Other countries being highly vocal on liberalisation were spending similar sums. At the outset I felt that it was important to recognise a number of issues.

It is crucial to influence substance attraction. Speaking from personal experience as a father of three and a grandparent of ten, I argued that young people do not like being lectured. Honesty meets the best response. As Chief Constable I had courted controversy for saying that young people should be told about the positives as well as the negative aspects of drugs."

"Being Drugs Tsar was a very interesting role, although rather a rollercoaster ride. Drugs are social phenomena within our society and I must conclude that the law has a part to play, but it is not the be all and end all. A wide range of departments and agencies, both nationally and internationally, must play a part. As Drugs Tsar, I was responsible for coordinating 16 departments and whilst I admit that it was hard to get them to work together, it was the only way to tackle the questions of drugs."