('The Observer' 4th March 1990)

The policy of prosecuting first-time drug offenders is expected to be abandoned by at least half the 42 police forces in England and Wales by the end of the year. Users will instead be cautioned and referred to specialist agencies for counselling to wean them off the habit and prevent them from again falling foul of the law.

Already nine forces have adopted these new procedures, which are designed to spearhead the large-scale removal of addicts and small-time users from the criminal justice system. Six more forces are understood to have agreed to set up similar schemes.

The new system, which requires close co-operation between police and local drug agencies, has been welcomed by both sides for its more humane approach to petty offenders and because it frees police resources to tackle major drugs dealers.

Police chiefs deny that the tactical change represents a back-door policy of decriminalising drug abuse. Nonetheless, the moves come at a time when a growing number of drug experts are calling for a radical re-think on how to deal with Britain's continuing narcotics problem - including voicing the heresy that all drugs should be legalised.

The initial shots in what is certain to be a lengthy national controversy will be heard in London this week when legalisation will be publicly debated by a panel of experts from all sides of the drugs arena. Organised by Dr. John Strang, of the Drug Dependency unit at the Maudsley Hospital, south London, it will give the the controversial idea its first serious airing in Britain.

The debate is likely to prove an indicator of the strength of pro-legalisation arguments in this country. The issue is also likely to be aired at the World Ministerial Drugs Summit being hosted by the Prime Minister in London next month.

In the United States, the legalisation cause is now espoused by a coalition of prominent politicians and commentators, whereas five years ago it would have been political suicide to even contemplate raising the issue.

Most well-known of these are former Secretary of State George Shultz and monetarist economist Milton Friedman: They say that despite huge resources channelled into the 'Drug War' by President Bush, demand has continued to grow: The free-marketeers and the supporters of State control use different arguments to support the case for legalisation. The State control lobby believes that it would not only remove attendant crime but could also enable States to regulate supply, control quality and raise taxes.

Dep. Ch. Supt. Chris Flint, in charge of Scotland Yard's Anticrack squad, told 'The Observer' last week that it was inevitable people were now begining to demand a different approach. "We are seeing a lot of people questioning the time and money spent on combating drugs: they don't see huge changes, so it is hardly surprising that there is now this debate", he said.

Mr. Flint, who will be representing the police side at this week's Maudsley debate, is keen to see wider use of a referral and cautioning system, backed by strong educational work in schools and colleges.

The only person who will be putting a forthright legalisation view at this week's debate is Dr. Anthony Henman of the International Anti-Prohibition League, a Brusseels-based organisation which works in collaboration with the Green group in the European Parliament.

Dr. Henman's arguments are complex, but centre around the idea of a state-controlled drug trade.

"Paradoxically, a legal market would act to allow drug use to be better controlled through education and a realistic social policy. The current decline in cigarette smoking is a good example", he said.

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Additional reporting by Anita Bennett

The full extent of drug abuse in Britain is impossible to gauge. According to the Home Office, there are 8.500 heroin and other 'hard' drug users, but experts believe that the real figure is nearer 80.000. Over one million people in Britain under the age of 40 are estimated to have tried cannabis at least once.

In 1988, 20.692 people were found guilty under the Misuse of Drugs Act, of whom 3.523 were sent to prison.