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Dear Delegates, May I welcome you to the 2007 ACPO Drugs Conference. This is my second conference as Chair and I am particularly pleased to welcome delegates and speakers from all over the world to Wales. The problems presented to communities by the production, distribution and use of illegal drugs remains a major challenge for the Government. It is noteworthy that the Home Office is currently reviewing the Government's ten year drugs strategy and that widespread consultation on that document has recently been concluded. We all look forward to seeing the results. Last year the theme for the natioal conference was "C The Future". In part, that future is now with us and the challenges presented to all of us by drugs have not diminished. It is an area of our work which is never short of comment from other quarters. Given the importance of the issues being considered, the complexity of the issues involved and the undoubted harms being inflicted upon our communities by drugs misuse, constructive comment is always welcome. Not all of it is supportive of our efforts as law enforcement agencies but I welcome that challenge as it reflects people's genuine desire to seek for solutions. The Royal Society report published earlier in the year called for a new approach to assessing the relative harms presented by a wide range of substances and was critical of the current government strategy which the ACPO drugs strategy mirrors to a degree. More recently, there have been renewed calls for the legalisation of drugs, a call that the vast majority of people involved in drugs enforcement and in addressing the misery caused by drugs misuse do not support, albeit we do understand the desire to explore new ways of reducing those harms. To an extent, that desire is reflected in the theme of this year's conference: Testing the Boundaries – Exploring New Ideas. During the next three days I hope that you will have an opportunity to consider a wide range of issues in relation to drugs which will provide you with food for thought and perhaps stimulate new ideas. Drugs will continue to present a range of challenges to our communities and to those of us charged with reducing harm and protecting vulnerable people – as well as disrupting and arresting those criminals who seek to exploit them. I look forward to meeting you and listening to your own contribution to the conference. Tim Hollis QPM, |
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