Pubdate: Fri, 19 Oct 2007
Source: Daily Post (UK)
Copyright: 2007 Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales Limited
Contact:  http://www.dailypost.co.uk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4288
Author: Tom Bodden, Daily Post
Cited: Law Enforcement Against Prohibition http://www.leap.cc
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Richard+Brunstrom
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?227 (Cole, Jack)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?233 (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition)

EX-US COP IS BACKING BRUNSTROM ON DRUGS PLAN

CHIEF Constable Richard Brunstrom yesterday won support for his 
crusade to legalise drugs from an ex-law enforcer in the United States.

Former undercover narcotics cop from New Jersey Jack Cole declared: 
"It's the only way out of this mess."

Mr Cole is heading a campaign in the USA to end prohibition of drugs 
which has attracted 10,000 supporters among the police and justice system.

North Wales' chief constable won backing this week from the police 
authority for a radical overhaul of drugs laws in the UK. But he 
faced a backlash from politicians opposed to relaxing the legal ban 
on drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

The Home Office, which is reviewing drugs policy, also dismissed the idea.

The stand by Mr Brunstrom was reported via media organisations around 
the world and Mr Cole said his group Law Enforcers Against 
Prohibition (Leap) supported the police chief 100%.

"We spent over a trillion dollars in 37 years in the US on the war on 
drugs," Mr Cole told the Daily Post.

"We have 38m arrests in our country for non violent drugs offences. 
Despite all this money spent and upheaval of lives, drugs are 
cheaper, more potent and more available than ever."

Leap (www.leap.cc) was launched five years ago with Mr Cole as a 
founder member and has attracted about 10,000 supporters including 
cops, prison governors, judges and former FBI agents.

"We are calling for an end to prohibition just like the end to 
alcohol prohibition in 1933, which put Al Capone and his buddies out 
of business," said Mr Cole who worked for 14 years undercover busting 
billion-dollar drug rings.

The North Wales Police Authority agreed on Monday to support a 
radical overhaul of the Misuse of Drugs Act after Mr Brunstrom said: 
"I despair of the flat-earthers who are refusing to look at the evidence."

He immediately came under fire from opponents and yesterday Clwyd 
West Conservative AM Darren Millar said: "While the Police Authority 
has fallen short of their chief constable's calls for the 
legalisation of damaging drugs, this decision is unhelpful and will 
send mixed messages to our young people who regard the police in the 
region as soft on drugs." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake