Pubdate: Sun, 25 Aug 2002 Source: London Free Press (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 The London Free Press a division of Sun Media Corporation. Contact: http://www.fyilondon.com/londonfreepress/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/243 Author: Maria Babbage, Canadian Press POLICE ASSOCIATION SEEKS NATIONAL DRUG STRATEGY OTTAWA-- A group representing Canadian municipal police authorities urged the federal government to implement a national drug strategy yesterday as it denounced the legalization of illicit drugs, including marijuana. "This resolution, which has been endorsed by all three of the country's national policing advocates -- the boards, the officers and the chiefs -- we believe will send a clear message to our nation's leaders," said Herb Kreling, president of the Canadian Association of Police Boards. The association, which represents more than 50 municipal police boards across Canada, passed the resolution at its annual general meeting. Kreling says the resolution also has the support of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Police Association. Previous proposals on child pornography and organized crime have ended up enshrined in federal legislation. Both Justice Minister Martin Cauchon and Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay have been told of the decisions reached during the two-day conference, Kreling said. MacAulay attended the conference Friday and will meet again with the association to discuss national policing issues. "We gave the minister the opportunity (Friday) to bring his comments to us," he said. "We did not push him for an immediate response. We will be meeting with the minister more formally in about six months' time and, at that time, we'll be looking for a more formal response." Kreling also said he is expecting to meet informally with Cauchon in the fall. The association is also asking MacAulay for an external review of a Correctional Services policy which allows maximum-security prisoners to be upgraded to lower security facilities. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth