Subject: Needle Exchange Schemes in Police Custody areas
From: Chris White <email address withheld>
Date: Fri, September 24, 2004 9:10 am
To: info@springfielduserscouncil.org
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Hi

I'm really amazed just how inefficient your Law Enforcement people are!

Tayside Police in Dundee, Scotland, have been operating a needle exchange scheme in all their custody areas for about the last 3 years. I was involved in setting it up when I was in post as the Force Drugs Co-ordinator. I retired in July this year as a Police Inspector after 31 years Police service.

We reckoned that if we couldn't stop illicit drug use then we had a responsibility to manage it.

The primary function of the Scottish Police Service is 'to protect life and property'. My take on that is that we have the responsibility to protect not only the life and property of those who possess them but also the live and property of those who have none. The Police are there to serve everyone in the community.

The strategic and tactical focus latterly has been dictated by a flawed acceptance that prohibition will cure all. It does not and can not and worse still it legitimises inhuman attitudes and behaviour.

Needle Exchange here is considered as a vital tool in fighting crime and drug related harm by encouraging engagement with appropriate health services. Most needle exchanges in our cells lead to referrals to local care agencies and treatment. This treatment invariably leads to a reduction in offending and a more stable and safe drug user. This in turn reduces the potential crime/health threats to the community and at absolutely no additional cost. Clearly we would prefer that people didn't misuse drugs and commit the acquisitive crime that is usually associated with it but in reality we accept that the status quo is unsustainable and we have to engage effectively with the user in a 'person centred' approach to penetrate the issue.

The health service doesn't have the resources to be available 24/7 and even if they did how do they reach those who have no interest in using their services.

The Police are open for business 24/7 and regularly come into contact with the most chaotic and problematic users. Solution = simple: The Police become a satellite service for the health service.

Why not? Isn't it the same tax payer (you and me) who pays up for the health service and the law enforcement services? How can we tolerate their inefficiency and ignorance?

Which bit of 'efficient, cost effective and simple approach' is it that your law enforcement people can't understand?

Chris White

Perthshire
Scotland