Conservatives to escalate war on drugs
The Conservative Party conference will today turn its attention to drugs and crime, with the Shadow Home Secretary David Davis set to reaffirm plans to give drug addicts the choice of rehabilitation or jail.
He is expected to day that the UK faces a “drugs epidemic” and promise a dramatic increase in drug treatment places.
“I make no apology for taking a hard line on drugs. They destroy lives, destroy society and render all our efforts to reduce crime worthless,” he looks set to say.
Under a Conservative government the war on drugs will also move to the schoolroom, with random drug-testing introduced to schools to keep pupils free from narcotics.
Mr Davis looks set to defend the decision to offer rehabilitation instead of prison, he will say it is “no soft option”.
“It will mean court supervision and failure will mean prison.
“This has worked in America and with the right powers it can work here.
“The public is protected. The addict is encouraged to go straight – and stay straight.”
Regarding the decision to step up drug testing in schools he will explain: “Children need to know that it is not cool to use drugs – it is stupid, it is dangerous, it is illegal. And parents should know the law will be enforced.”
Mr Davis is also expected to flesh out plans to scrap the current early release system, and cut the amount of paperwork done by police officers.
