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Published Date: 04 March 2007
By MURDO MACLEOD
Police figures reveal shocking child drug dealing problem Source of drugs can be older dealers or parents 10 year-old is youngest dealer in Scotland
Key quote:
"It's perfectly clear that this Lib-Lab pact's approach to drug education has failed. We have children as young as 10 supplying hard drugs." - Scottish Tory spokesman

Story in full CHILD dealers of heroin, cocaine and oth
er banned substances are being arrested at the rate of one every four days in the latest sign that Scotland is in the grip of a drugs epidemic.

More than 300 children - some as young as 10 - have been charged with supplying in the past three years and a total of 20kgs of drugs seized by police.

The figures, obtained from all eight Scottish police forces, show for the first time the full, shocking extent of drug dealing among under-16s.

Scotland's most senior drug enforcement officer said celebrities must shoulder some of the blame for the crisis of drug abuse among the nation's children.

Graeme Pearson, head of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, said The View frontman Kyle Falconer, convicted last week for cocaine possession, was among those setting a bad example.

Among the revelations in the new figures, obtained under Freedom of Information, are:

• The youngest charged was a 10-year-old supplier of Ecstasy, caught by Strathclyde Police;

• Strathclyde also caught two 11-year-old heroin pushers and a 13-year-old selling cocaine;

• Fife Police caught a 13-year-old dealing amphetamines;

• Central Scotland caught one 15-year-old dealing three kinds of drugs: cannabis, diazepam, and cocaine;

• Grampian caught one 15-year-old with 1.5kg of cannabis;

• Lothian and Borders Police charged three children, a 12-year-old and two 14-year-olds, with peddling the anti-hyperactivity drug Ritalin, which abusers snort as a stimulant.

Police and social work insiders say young dealers are getting their drugs from two main sources: older dealers who want to use them as a "front" and by stealing from parents and siblings who themselves use drugs.

While some of the dealing takes place at school, most of it happens at social gatherings.

Police insiders say some of the child pushers are not themselves addicts and are simply in it for business. While a "first sample" might be free the drugs will later be traded for about £50 an ounce of cannabis, with heroin going for £15 a gram, and cocaine £50 a gram.

Drugs experts and leading politicians reacted with concern. Kenny MacAskill, the SNP's justice spokesman, said: "These figures are truly shocking. Some of these young people will be the victims of drugs at home and will need protection, but some are using drugs to exploit other youngsters. It shows that there are no lows to which the drugs industry will not stoop."

A Scottish Tory spokesman said: "It's perfectly clear that this Lib-Lab pact's approach to drug education has failed. We have children as young as 10 supplying hard drugs."

Kyle Falconer, 19, was fined £1,000 on Friday for possessing £150 worth of cocaine. The conviction delayed the Dundee band's eight-date tour of the United States and could scupper their chances of ever playing there.

Pearson, the head of the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency, suggested such behaviour was one of the reasons so many children were getting into drugs.

He said: "Prominent people and celebrities who call for drugs to be decriminalised are not helping. Young people are using what they say as a justification for trying drugs. Kyle Falconer now has an opportunity to put it all behind him and choose whether he is going to be a drug abuser or a musician of real note, but he can't be both. Does he really want to put his career at risk for some white powder?"

An adult may be jailed for life for supply of Class A drugs such as heroin and up to 14 years for Class B substances such as cannabis.

The Crown Office reserves the right to try in court children of any age for drug supply, although in practice most young peddlers are sent to the Children's Panel, which can order an offender to be supervised at home or send them to a secure unit.

A recent case at a high school in Glasgow saw police called after a pupil had informed a teacher that cannabis was being sold in the playground. The 15-year-old was caught within the grounds of his school with 10 wrapped pieces of cannabis resin.

Although he could have been sent to a secure unit, the Children's Panel allowed him to remain at home on condition that he should attend a special drugs programme for teenagers and that he had to return three months later so his behaviour could be reassessed.

All of Scotland's police forces have charged children with drug supply in the past three years, with Strathclyde recording 119, Lothian and Borders 43, and Central Scotland and Fife 13 each.

Tayside charged 19, Grampian 52, and Northern 26, although figures were only available for the last two years. In the south, Dumfries and Galloway saw 19 children charged.

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said: "Problematic drug use in Scotland is falling and reported drug use among school children remains stable. However, these figures show that more needs to be done to stop young people getting involved in drugs in the first place - and that's why the minister has announced that while enforcement will continue to be a key part of drugs strategy, that we intend to place much greater emphasis on drug prevention and drug education. "



Information received from Scotland's police forces


The statistics were provided to Scotland on Sunday under the Freedom of Information Act. Because various police forces have different recording and reporting procedures, they are not recorded in the same way for all forces.

The figures refer to youngsters who were charged with possession with intent to supply and with concern to supply. They do not include the many others who might have been detained but not charged, and individuals who were charged for "simple" possession offences.

Although some of the forces list over-16s in their data, we did not include over-16s for the purpose of our news story.

Central Scotland

2003/04

Age: 13 – Cannabis (1.5g)
Age: 13 – Cannabis (1.0g)
Age: 14 – Cannabis (5.6g)
Age: 15 – Cannabis (76.8g). Diazapam (5 tablets)

2004/05

Age: 15 – Cannabis (255g), Diazapam (small qty), Cocaine (1.5g)
Age: 15 – Cannabis (126g), Amphetamine (13.6g)

2005/06

Age: 12 – Cannabis (0.4g)
Age: 12 – Cannabis (0.5g)
Age: 13 – Cannabis (3.7g)
Age: 14 – Cannabis (4.7g)
Age: 15 – Cannabis (19.2g)
Age: 15 – Diazapam (5 tablets)

Dumfries and Galloway

The following table details the number of incidents recorded, where an individual or individuals under the age of 16 were charged with an offence relating to the supply or possession with intent to supply a controlled drug:

Suspect/Accused Aged Under 16

Number of detected incidents:

2003/04 – 6
2004/05 – 7
2005/06 – 5

Fife

2003 – 2004

Number/Age/Drug

One/12 year old/Cannabis
Two/13 year olds/Two x Cannabis
One/15 year old/Ecstasy
Two/16 year olds/One x Heroin and one x Cannabis

2004 – 2005

Number/Age/Drug
One/13 year old/Amphetamine
One/14 year old/Cannabis
One/15 year old/Cannabis
Two/16 year olds/One x Heroin and one x Cannabis

2005 - 2006

Number/Age/Drug
Five/14 year olds/One x Ecstasy, two x Cannabis and two x Valium
One/15 year old/Cannabis
Three/16 year olds/Three x Cannabis

Grampian

Drug Offenders aged 16 or under

Supply possession w.i. to supply etc of drugs

2004

Age: 14 – Cannabis (26.8g)
Age: 15 – Amphetamine (no drugs recovered)
Age: 16 – Cannabis Resin (3.7g)
Age: 16 – Diamorphine (Heroin) (4.68g)
Age: 16 – Ecstasy (30 tablets)
Age: 14 – Cannabis resin (206g)
Age: 15 – Cannabis (75.04g)
Age: 15 – Cannabis resin (66.92g)
Age: 16 – Diazepam (no drugs recovered)
Age: 14 – Cannabis resin (no drugs recovered)
Age: 15 – Diazepam (6 tablets)
Age: 13 – Cannabis resin (0.2g)
Age: 13 – Cannabis resin (no drugs recovered)
Age: 13 – Cocaine (no drugs recovered)
Age: 13 – Diamorphine (Heroin) (no drugs recovered)
Age: 15 – Cannabis resin (too small an amount to weigh)
Age: 15 – Cannabis resin (3.57g and 3.56g of Cannabis)
Age: 14 – Cannabis resin (no drugs recovered)
Age: 14 – Cannabis resin (4.5g)
Age: 14 – Cannabis resin (14.2g)

2005

Age: 16 – Cocaine (5.47g)
Age: 16 – Diamorphine (Heroin) (3.24g)
Age: 13 – Cannabis resin (4g)
Age: 15 – Cannabis (2.48g)
Age: 15 – Ecstasy (0.04g of Amphetamine)
Age: 15 – Ecstasy (83 tablets and 1.22g of cannabis)
Age: 16 – Cannabis (13.88g)
Age: 15 – Cannabis (1490.8g)
Age: 15 – Cannabis (745.87g)
Age: 15 – Cannabis resin (0g)
Age: 14 – Cannabis (10.9g of Cannabis resin)
Age: 15 – Ecstasy (no drugs recovered)
Age: 16 – Cannabis resin (1.3g)
Age: 14 – Cannabis resin (0.2g)
Age: 14 – Cannabis resin (no drugs recovered)
Age: 14 – Cannabis resin (0.3g)
Age: 15 – Cannabis resin (6.9g)
Age: 16 – Diamorphine (Heroin) (83.8g)
Age: 15 – Cannabis resin (55.5g and 3.88g of Cannabis)
Age: 13 – Cannabis resin (12.9g)

2006

Age: 15 – Not Recorded (no drugs recovered)
Age: 16 – Diamorphine (Heroin) (24.7g)
Age: 16 – Ecstasy (24 tablets)
Age: 13 – Cannabis resin (Joint smoked with friend)
Age: 14 – Cannabis resin (Joint smoked with friend)
Age: 16 – Cocaine (131.34g)
Age: 16 – Diamorphine (Heroin) (16.25g)
Age: 15 – Amphetamine (2027g)
Age: 15 – Cannabis (240g of Cannabis resin)
Age: 15 – Cocaine (53.8g)
Age: 14 – Cannabis resin (no drugs recovered)
Age: 14 – Cannabis resin (no drugs recovered)
Age: 14 – Cannabis resin (no drugs recovered)
Age: 15 – Not recorded (no drugs recovered)
Age: 14 – Dihydrocodeine (no drugs recovered)

Lothian and Borders

2003/04

Age/Drug Type/Weight

13/Cannabis Resin/1.75g
13/Cannabis Resin/Unknown
14/Ritalin/9 Tablets
14/Cannabis Resin/2.9g
14/Cannabis Resin/6.5g
14/Cannabis Resin/Unknown
15/Cannabis Resin/Unknown
15/Cannabis Resin/11.5g
15/Cannabis Resin/14g
15/Cannabis Resin/0.9g
15/Cannabis Resin/Unknown
15/Cannabis Resin/Unknown
15/Cannabis Resin/3 Oz
15/Cannabis Resin/7 Small Pieces
15/Cannabis Resin/14.1g
15/Cannabis Resin/Unknown
15/Herbal Cannabis/Unknown
15/Cannabis Resin/Unknown
15/Cannabis Resin/Unknown
15/Cannabis Resin/Unknown


2004/05

Age/Drug Type/Weight

11/Cannabis/Reefer
12/Cannabis/Reefer
12/Ritalin/2 Tablets
12/Cannabis Herbal/Resin/Personal Amt
12/Diamorphine/2.18g
13/Cannabis Herbal/Resin/Personal Amt
13/Cannabis Resin/2 Pieces & Reefer
14/Cannabis Herbal/Resin/£40/£35 worth
14/Ritalin/6 Tablets
14/Cannabis Resin/Unknown & Reefer
14/Cannabis/Reefer
14/Cannabis/Reefers
14/Diamorphine/8.2g
15/Cannabis/Reefer
15/Cannabis Resin/Unknown
15/Cocaine/5.0g

2005/06

Age/Drug Type/Weight

14/Cannabis/Reefer
14/Herbal Cannabis/3g
15/Herbal Cannabis/3g
15/Herbal Cannabis/1g
15/Valium/1 Tablet
15/Cannabis Resin/96.1g
15/Cannabis Resin/3g
15/Cannabis Resin/1.6g

Northern

We onl
y started our database for this information in 2005 and so do not have any figures pre this. We would have to go through all the records for this crime for the previous year to confirm if any of the people where under 16 (over 200).

This would involve a lengthy search of records held and the cost of providing you with the information is above the amount to which we are legally required to respond, i.e. the cost of locating and retrieving the information exceeds the “appropriate level” as stated in Freedom of Information (Scotland) (Fees) Regulations 2004.

The figures are:

2005 - Total 11 (14yrs - 4, 15 yrs - 3, 16 yrs - 4)
2006 - Total 15 (14yrs - 4, 15 yrs - 3, 16 yrs - 8)

Strathcl
yde
Please
note that the information provided relates to individuals under the age of 16 who were charged with a contravention of one or both of the following charges.
• Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 section 4(3)(b) Concerned in the supply of controlled drugs
• Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 section 5(3) Possession with intent to supply controlled drugs

2003/04

Age/Type of Drug/No of Offenders

10 years
Ecstasy/1

11 years
Cannabis/1

12 years
Cannabis/3

13 years
Ecstasy/3
Cannabis/1
Diamorphine/1
Cocaine/1

14 years
Cannabis/11
Diamorphine/1
Ecstasy/2

15 years
Cannabis/9
Diamorphine/2
Ecstasy/5
Cocaine/4
Diazepam/6

2004/05

11 years
Diamorphine/1

13 years
Cannabis/2

14 years
Cannabis/4
Ecstasy/1
Diazepam/1

15 years
Cannabis/9
Diamorphine/1
Ecstasy/4
Diazepam/2
Amphetamine/2
Amphet/Cocaine/Ecstasy/1

2005/06

11 years
Diamorphine/1

12 years
Cannabis/1

13 years
Cannabis/1
Ecstasy/2

14 years
Cannabis/7
Ecstasy/4

15 years
Cannabis/18
Diamorphine/1
Ecstasy/4
Cocaine/1
Diazepam/1

Tayside
NUMBER
OF UNDER 16S CHARGED WITH SUPPLY OF DRUGS OFFENCES

2003-04

AGE NUMBER CHARGED
13 2
14 2
15 2
TOTAL: 6

2004-05

AGE NUMBER CHARGED
14 3
15 2
TOTAL: 5

2005-06

AGE NUMBER CHARGED
14 4
15 4
TOTAL: 8



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 04 March 2007 2:29 AM
  • Source: Scotland On Sunday
  • Location: Scotland
  • Related Topics: Heroin , Drugs policy
 
1

,

04/03/2007 03:02:14
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
2

www.scottwebb.co.uk,

04/03/2007 03:19:12

Morning Bill....check out the vid player and you will start realising WHY stuff like this is happening :) http://www.scottwebb.co.uk/15.html

3

U. Lukenatmepal?,

Mildly Hungover (only alcohol though) 04/03/2007 03:34:08

What a fearless and wonderful piece of journalistic endeavour from the Scotsman on the Sabbath. Here we find random sound-bites from various spokespeople, followed by endless lists of statistics, and not a piece of editorial comment to be seen - apart from that all-purpose first word in the title.

Your star reporter Murdo McLeod clearly assigned this case to his two key assistants. I refer of course to Messrs. Copy and Paste.

4

U. Lukenatmepal?,

Mildly Hungover (only alcohol though) 04/03/2007 03:55:15

#2 Scottweb, I just looked at your jolly little website and its assorted little videos.

You may be interested to know that recent studies have found strong evidence of a link between prolonged consumption of the more powerful varieties of marijuana and the onset of extreme feelings of paranoia. It really can damage your brain you know. I'd post a link to the studies if only I could be bothered to find it.

5

Gnasher,

04/03/2007 03:58:05

If this paper was serious about investigating this issue it would identify and name the suppliers who manipulate these kids, and who supply the celebs referrred to by the cop. But it isn't.

Yesterday's Scotsman said that the pop "star" was supplied with his drugs by "music industry insiders". Who are they? What is the point of journalism if it doesn't investigate these topics?

6

www.scottwebb.co.uk,

04/03/2007 03:59:56

Comment@4 U. Lukenatmepal..........lay off the stuff then :)

7

U. Lukenatmepal?,

Mildly Hungover (only alcohol though) 04/03/2007 04:17:28

#6 Scottweb, you took the words right out of my mouth.

And by the way, just because you're paranoid it doesn't mean that they're not out to get you.

8

www.scottwebb.co.uk,

04/03/2007 04:36:47

Comment@7 U. Lukenatmepal..He He, nice one......last month, of the 50 or so countries that i have visitors from last month......my 4th most popular was from a country called UNKNOWN :)

9

www.scottwebb.co.uk,

04/03/2007 04:37:33

Had visitors even.....damn my grammar :)

10

matthew in davao,

philippines 04/03/2007 06:10:40

what a load of bull.!! the reason kids are used to distribute drugs is just what you wrote, THEY ARE NOT TREATED AS CRIMINALS. they are assigned to some cockamamie wee program, to be taught ? what i dont know. i worked in mental health for years, in the u.s. these people dont want to be educated, cured, rehabilitated, whatever. they think people who work for aliving and strive for a better life for their kids are, stupid, suckers. then we have the bleeding hearts, why ? because they can carve a nice wee niche out of these cockamamie programs. the say, see, i an a good person, i care. which is exactly the response these parasites love. john q public is the victim. every time. not these users and asbusers. tell me, what has " the war on drugs or the war on crime achieved ?' exactly the same as " the war on terror. has or ever will achieve" sounds very righteous and never achieves anything. waken up joe public. use every means at your disposal, fair or foul to protect, you and yours.

11

www.mevbrown.org.uk,

Edinburgh 04/03/2007 06:13:13

Last year Tom Wood, Edinburgh’s drugs tsar, was quoted as saying ‘we have lost the war on drugs. We can expect more and worse stories like this in the years ahead.

There isn’t a single MSP or MP that has a real understanding of how to deal with this.

I am standing on May 3 and will be announcing a drugs policy later this month. Keep an eye on www.nhsfirst.org.uk

12

Paul Voltaire,

www.paulvoltaire.spaces.live.com 04/03/2007 06:51:39

This story makes my smoking in the lavvy at school quaintly innocent.The strongest thing we ever smoked was a No.6

13

jim lad,

the capital 04/03/2007 07:12:20

#10 matthew in davao
Your correct, there was a programme on our telly the other week and they were interviewing kids in a remand centre and they said only suckers work and they would be back to the selling/supplying as soon as they hit the streets.They were also into stealing top range cars to order so they get money for drugs and the money they get for the cars was only £50-£100 so who's making the real money.

14

Encephalon,

04/03/2007 07:31:24

Get real and legalise cannabis-in fact for violent youngsters I would make it mandatory!

The most damaging drug in Scotland is alcohol.

15

Open Minded,

A Better Place 04/03/2007 07:31:55

# 10 (matthew in davao)

Why not get a dog Matthew, form a loving relationship with it and then you can set it on people like criminals.

Joking apart, there isn't an easy answer to solving this problem but a start would be looking at the "home" environment.

16

matthew in davao,

philippines 04/03/2007 07:41:53

exactly jim lad. they dont care for you or yours. they are anti-social, pschopathic. they will never change. they dont want to change. fine. but where does it say that joe q. public has to change. the problem is that, joe q. has to think, is it o.k. for me to say this. there is a saying " SCROOM ' why do you as a hard working joe/parent have to put up with this ? you dont. speak up. say it. enough is enough. no more. they want to do/take/sell drugs, fine. but not in my back yard on my tax money. tough, sure. but when was life not tough for john q. public. ?

17

matthew in davao,

philippines 04/03/2007 07:52:35

dear sceptic man. my wee lassie has two wee dugs. you obviously have no experience with these anti social/psychopaths. when they steal all your goodies and the cops say " ah well, naebody was hurt, right ? ' then get back to me. home environment ? i said it on other places. i left scotland in 1950. age 16. alone. give me a break. home environment. they are pschopaths. they dont give a monkey about anyone or anything. go work as a volunteer in one of these wee cockamamie programs. which i am sure they have in scotland, then get back to me in a few months. i have absolute confidence you will; have a changed viewpoint. good luck.

18

www.scottwebb.co.uk,

04/03/2007 08:13:41

I think we are yet again being guided to point the finger at kids here.......now I'm not saying all kids are little cherubs BUT.........the question really has to be asked.......who the heck is handing the kids the drugs to sell or buy ?
We SHOULD be targeting the scumbags that bring the drugs into the country.......but ohh let me guess.......thats too hard APPARENTLY.....Mr Big Kingpin drug dealer can fight back..........far easier to slap yet a whole load of new laws on peoples movements and take yet more control of kids off the family unit and into the hands of the state.

Ask yourself sometimes people......WHO STANDS TO GAIN.......
Humour me here.......if you happened to be looking to create a totalitarian state.........do you think you would achieve that goal if everything was rosy....no.....IF the objective was to get more and more power over the people into state hands.....how would you go about it........
The more money that is being spent on the war against crime....result....more crime
The more money thats spent on war...result...more war
The more money that spent on tackling drubs....result....more drugs..

No wonder there is so many disillusioned kids out there with the level of adult intellect kicking about these days

19

www.scottwebb.co.uk,

04/03/2007 08:16:56

No wonder the elites call us Serfs....im off to do stuff, while the rest of you lot think of ways to bring back hanging or something for kids........and we are supposed to be a smart nation LMAO :)

20

www.scottwebb.co.uk,

04/03/2007 08:32:00

TAX drugs and at a stroke you destroy the incentive for criminal involvement by driving the price down.
Drugs are not going to go away but at least if you legalise and tax drugs, you have the revenue and far more control over who supplies and to who.......anyway as i said I'm off to do stuff, have fun :)

21

Onlooker,

04/03/2007 08:36:50

Biggest drug dealers in Scotland are the breweries. Scotland has been committing slow suicide for decades with alcohol - and the kids have seen this. Now he country's just speeding up the deathtrip process by having the kids wiring and firing into smack.

What a bloody MESS Scotland is. It's heartbreaking. 20 years ago you would never have heard this sort of story; just good old-fashioned ones about drunk weans or them being beaten by their drunk parents.

Drug abuse in Scotland is nothing new. Whiskey and freedom and madness gang aft thegither. Have done for centuries.

And as for that guy from The View. A pop star taking drugs? THERE'S a new one - never heard THAT one before. A 'role model'? Why SHOULD he be? He's JUST an entertainer. The role models should be parents and families in general and teachers and suchlike. Pop stars SHOULD be abusing drugs - otherwise what use are they as the worn-out 'rebellious' cliche they are and have been for decades?

22

ghost chaser,

on the other side of the pond 04/03/2007 08:47:20

boy this is a PROBLEM EVERYWHERE !!!!! i wish i could say that our children here in the US were perfect, BUT, i have witnessed children selling drugs right in-front of the grocery store. they ride up on their little bikes, roll up their little pant legs and pull the " crap " out and sell it to the many " losers " that seem to line up for it. then the kids put the cash in the other little sock and ride on. i guess the " just say NO " campaign is not working, hum, how many millions have been spent on this subject and for what.

23

Real kilts,

Edinburgh 04/03/2007 09:03:37

The Royal Mile and the streets off are full of druggies
needles in the drains etc. On giro day at the post office in St Mary's street the dealers are waiting for a sale last week there were no druggies about as everyone had a fix and the street was flooded so we had no druggie shoplifters
what bliss. Shame about the kids on drugs what does the police station in the Royal Mile do, sweet FA

24

Chuck.U.Farley,

04/03/2007 09:14:40

Mr moderator.
Why is Mev Brown(11) allowed to use this forum for party political purposes?

25

Eschew Obfuscation,

Edinburgh 04/03/2007 09:15:34

Real Kilts @ 24;

The 'Police information Centre' on the royal mile has a fascinating selection of steam and coal powered radios from the dark ages; when Police were allowed to clip a youngster round the ear and send them on their way..

When I was at secondary school, 3 years in the 'belt' was banned; and the difference in respect for teachers was visible overnight.

Human rights legislation, political correctness whilst right in their general purpose have been lost in a mire of over kill in this country.

The two murderers on the run from England last month did not have their images shown in the media to protect THEIR human rights!

Its time we got real with this legislation thats destroying the justice system in this country and realised that you cannot rule by slapping offenders on the wrist with a fluffy pink mitten.

26

Friend-at-large,

04/03/2007 09:15:50

Whatever happened to kids earning money with a paper route?

Paul Voltaire, nice description of smoking in the school lavatories as "quaintly innocent."

Drug users can damage brain capacity. Life is more fun with a well-functioning brain.

27

ghost chaser,

on the other side of the pond 04/03/2007 09:17:53

it irritates me to no end when i think of adults who use children to sell this stuff. i wonder why the adults don't get really hard sentences when they are caught? aren't they contributing to the delinquency of a minor ? just a thought . i say," hang- um- high ", then sell them to universities for cadavers. medical science needs a few dead drug ( adult ) dealers. kidding aside, teens know better, little ones don't. do you think their parents encourage this for money or perhaps for drugs.

28

Ian G,

Edinburgh 04/03/2007 09:25:45

Please now we all know Labours response to this.


All Together Now...


ITS ALL THE FAULT OF THE TORIES!

29

Chuck.U.Farley,

04/03/2007 09:36:41

MURCHADH MACLEOID, yet another fearless indepth peice of journalism.......not!!
name the names of the adults and suppliers

30

warden99,

the stix 04/03/2007 09:46:36

crafty dealers , use a child and the child gets of just about scot free when caught , nice tactic

anyone for a few Es

31

Ricco,

04/03/2007 10:33:58

#28
Ian - thatcher said "There is no society, only individuals" and she meant it and worked hard to make it so for 'Thatcher's children'. Now those 'children' are parents and what a bonnie bunch. You clearly have never worked with families (across the social board). I have often wondered how many youngsters turned out normal, given the sullen, passive-aggressive selfishness 'taught' to them by their parents.

Kids are the same as they always have been - ready to follow whatever lead adults give. If that lead is dog eat dog, that is what they will follow.

32

Tarchin,

Lothian 04/03/2007 10:43:15

* 21
Tax and legalise drugs, thus removing the profit motive. Interesting thought and could well be at least a partial answer but, and it is a big but, finding politicians who are prepared to debate such an issue would be well nigh impossible. No politician or politcal party wants to be seen as soft on drugs.

33

ddmc,

04/03/2007 10:48:21

kids are used as mules becuase the dealers tell them that nothing can be done to them if caught & the statistics don't lie. Any dealers who use kids should get a double sentence, problem is N.Labour who refuse to acknowledge the problem & are dragging their heels in building new prisons. There should also be far tougher sentences for kids who deal also.

34

Guga,

Rockall 04/03/2007 10:48:36

It seems to me that more effort should be made to catch the importers of drugs. Kids, and others, can't deal drugs if there are none to deal.

The authorities seem to spend all their time catching street dealers and users, but we rarely hear about drug importers being caught. Maybe they are spending too much time trying to catch people who bring in legally purchased tobacco and alcohol, to be bothered devoting any effort towards drug importers.

In any event, there are only two solutions to drugs. Either legalise them, and hence have some control over them, or bring back the death penalty for importers and dealers. There is no half-way house.

35

Robb,

04/03/2007 10:52:15

The problems start at home. Parents should be made more accountable for their childrens behaviour. I bet every single one of these youngsters involved in this drugs trade have dysfunctional home lives, where there is absolutely no parental role modelling. It's a hard cycle to break, but the children will never get out of it unless the deeper social issues are addressed. Kids from decent homes, with good role models at home,and someone who spends time with them, do NOT get involved in the drugs trade at the age of 12 or whatever.

36

Utter Shambles,

Edinburgh 04/03/2007 11:45:58

As part of my job involves working with schools and giving an anti drugs message, I see a number of problems. First of all the SCDEA, what exactly are they doing apart from chucking out cheap 'sound bites' like this. It appears to me they are always after the elusive 'Mr Big' drug dealer - well the vast majority of the public are more concerned with their local ' low level' dealer peddling the stuff in their stair or close. Secondly, the Police are no longer pro active but reactive. Regular Beat cops walking around an area, checking tenements etc, soon make that an unpopular area to buy/sell drugs. Thirdly, education, there is no 'joined up' thinking, I know first hand Police and teachers do there bit in schools, but what about the others such as local drug action teams, local drug workers? The whole problem is a lot bigger than blaming celebrities. Finally, as per some of the above comments, alcohol is by a mile still the 'drug of choice' for most people, but the SCDEA remit doesn't include alcohol.

37

The Strategist,

04/03/2007 12:12:22

Kids involved in drug dealing should be named and shamed and threatened with jail unless they spill the beans on their suppliers..

The suppliers should be treated as having committed attempted murder, their assets seized and slung into nick for life.

I'm sick and tired of the namby pamby liberal left wing approach to this evil bunch... As far as I'm concerned they're as much a threat as any terrorist.

38

Repton,

edinburgh 04/03/2007 12:37:23

A shocking catalogue of statistics that is hard to believe.What I`d do with the little blighters is birch their backsides good and hard.Then it would be sorry sonny or dearie you`ve broken he law and not only that added to human misery.If you see fit to continue your evil business expect the severest of punishments next time.
Don`t tell me they`d be back.

39

Repton,

edinburgh 04/03/2007 12:39:11

A shocking catalogue of statistics that is hard to believe.What I`d do with the little blighters is birch their backsides good and hard.Then it would be sorry sonny or dearie you`ve broken the law and not only that, added to human misery.If you see fit to continue your evil business expect the severest of punishments next time.
Don`t tell me they`d be back.

40

tomfrom66,

Blackpool, UK 04/03/2007 12:51:18

#11

What a curious little outfit this is. It asks you to contact him/them but ignores it when you do!

A sure sign of the very 'career politician' behaviour which it claims to deplore.

41

MadMax,

04/03/2007 12:52:47

In the mid to late 70s You could buy any drug you wanted in my School.

So this problem is not new, Just no one seemed to notice way back then.

It has nothing to do with pop stars setting a bad example , its more to do with peer pressure from friends and good old curiosity than anything else.

Also I notice the price has dropped to £50 for an ounce of cannabis.

It used to be £80 to £140 (depending on the quality) for an ounce in 1978
At the time that was a lot of money for a teenager to find.

42

tomfrom66,

Blackpool, UK 04/03/2007 12:53:27

#15

Your view is confirmed in this morning's Observer:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2026205,0...

43

C.U. Jimmy,

Roondandabootthehoose 04/03/2007 13:00:49

Re the importers, as anyone travelling into Britain in recent years will attest, the green channel at Customs is usually unmanned and like an open goal, so it's no deterrent. And it'd hardly encourage the genuine tourists - what's left of them - if we were to start random body-searching all incomers. (Of course we would do this in a strictly PC, non-prejudicial way, with due recognition of the Human Rights of criminals... in other words, infants, grannies and normal-looking white males the targets, I expect.)

It's totally out of the question that any 'drug lords' could be paying our law enforcement agents to turn a blind eye to the problem.

Me, I'm basically in the hang-em high camp, as practised in largely drug-free Singapore. Given our elected politicians' collective terror of the death penalty though, the practical solution is to legalise drugs and provide them on prescription to registered addicts... just like we did 40-odd years ago. If only we could learn the lessons of history.

44

Repton,

edinburgh 04/03/2007 13:12:01

Comment by Mad Max says you could buy stuff at school in the late seventies.I`ll tell you when I was at Secondary in the late fifties the only thing you`d get was a drag of a woodbine behind the bike shed.Shows you how times changed in 20 years and I put a lot down to the coming of the Beatles and Rolling Stones when they flouted the use of drugs.Before that it was never heard of other than far off America.I certainly agree pop culture has a lot to answer for.

45

Isabel,

04/03/2007 13:48:15

Hang the drug dealers.

46

iain,

edinburgh 04/03/2007 14:05:57

Scottish Enterprise should reward these kids-the entrepreneurs of tomorrow !!!!!!!

47

mikej77,

Canada 04/03/2007 14:15:20

Just ignore the children and leave them to whatever fate befalls them.

All of our attention must be focused on the weather 100 years from now.

The fact that scientists cannot reliably predict the weather in any given location 24 hours per now forget about 100 years is absolutely irrelevant.

I insist that I believe them and that the end is nigh.

Millions of dependent drug-addled citizens is nothing compared to possible sea heights in the centuries top come.

48

bruce borland,

Drugs and children 04/03/2007 14:37:41

First, while they are classed as children, open you eyes, children grow up much earlier now than ever but the key is they do not mature. Why? Because parents of the lower income groups are working too hard to supply the bare essentials that the children are neglected. When the day comes that your country realizes the following, you will see a remarkable difference, but as long as the enforcement groups and government profit from the same enforcement then the problem will escalate to justify their very existence.
1}Find a system where in the UK the poor and middle class get a fair share of the pie. I observed that in your country, that either you are a have or a have not and the "haves" are borderline obscene.
2}Legalize, grow, tax and distribute the soft drugs that are now demonized by the very people who profit from the enforcement. Allow the "adults" to purchase there vice of choice.
3}Legalize heroine for proven users and as a pain killer; solving two problems: one, removal of profit from the black market and supporting countries who have traditionally profited from the cultivation. The pharmaceutical firms are against this because far more damaging chemicals are produced for serious profit by them.
4} Revise the public education program from people who profit from the distribution of clouded knowledge that children no longer believe and get it back into the hands of the real people...social clubs and the church. Children are not stupid anymore and to tell them they are going to "grow hair on their hands if they masturbate and smoke pot while swallowing crack as they die from ecstasy because their heart is going to pop out of their chest with heroin coating" and, hey kids, its alright "to suck up the alcohol and to gamble the family food and future away".
5}The publishing industry must stop being duped by purely public relations information released to enhance and justify the existence of the

49

sandatchi,

Scotland 04/03/2007 14:43:16

if politicans had any guts, and put the country before their political party, then we could legalise drugs (as they do on the national health), it could then be treated as an illness (if it is not an illnes, why do we give them DLA), saving the national health service a fortune by not having to treat addicts for amputations, ODs blood poisoning etc. it would also deny funds to the gangsters, a lot of them foreign, before our society sinks past the point of no return

50

nolimits,

Canada 04/03/2007 14:58:15

Ohhh how I remember getting caned! for having half a woodbine in my pocket. Wheres the discipline today? My kids got a good hiding when it was needed, and a ton of love all the time. They neither drink nor smoke. And, they made up their own minds about it. Go figure!

51

bruce borland,

04/03/2007 15:46:31

I am not sure whether I am allowed a second observation but I will attempt it...I am just reading the postings again and I am shocked by some of the ignorance displayed by so many but have a feeling of hope when I read very few of them..."Let's cane, hang and incarcerated the little bastards" not an exact quote, is purely indicative of why the problems will never be solved. Like Alice am I in the wonderland of the Scotsman or have I stumbled into the Sun.


3/13/156/16/19/20/21/23/30/31/32/34/35* all show your country still has some people who do not get all there insight from the Sun; BUT

24, I walked the Royal Mile for 3 months in 2005 and never saw one drug dealer and believe me I was starving for a joint; but then again shrums were then available in the store on Cobourn.

26. two words alcohol and tobacco; oh 3, the media

33, not true, two words again, Harry and William.

37, go back to the Sun, maybe these kids are trying to escape your philosophy of life.

42, "tourists, what's left of them?"..totally absurd like the rest of your verbal drivel. Take a walk down the Royal Mile with 24 someday...but preferably with your eyes open.

43, read 42.

44, wow that's intelligent..that philosophy goes with nuking the island and starting over.

My apologies if I offend anyone, but while the article is exactly what one writer says.."cut and paste" the responses do scare me even more, but I still love Scotland and will be living there as soon as the logistics work out for me. You have no idea what a special place you have. Work with your children and savor the special place in the world you have and do not be sucked in by the rich and the greedy establishment government. You are the last place on earth that I feel is worth living because the people are real and do think for themselves. Over and out and Canada is special too...Bruce...oh watch for me, I will be the one not staggering but

52

albajoe,

Arizona 04/03/2007 15:51:10

Jail the wee buggers till they give the names of the pushers

53

Prinzowhales,

North Carolina 04/03/2007 15:57:38

It's a crying shame...The Taliban came within a whit of wiping out the opium production and in come the squaddies to rescue the vile trade. Little difference between this front in the Stupid People's War and the Opium Wars of the 19th century.

UUUUhhh! Those wicked Taliban made women wear veils...failing to mention of course that under the war lords they were raped and murdered.

Now your kiddies are dealing heroin...isn't karma grand? And you'll be wanting more and more police to deal with it....a bigger and more expensive state for more 'tweetment pwogwams'...and all the time ignoring the men and women you sent to fight for Queen and Opium.

54

,

04/03/2007 16:08:36
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason: Scotsman Import, Original comment id: 416760, Article id was mapped to record!
55

Laurette,

San Diego, California 04/03/2007 16:13:04

#43 I was at a pretty rough Secondary School in the early 50's and like you - the strongest I got was a Woodbine. Had drugs been as available as they are now, the crowd that I associated with would surely have been using.

56

ghost chaser,

on the other side of the pond 04/03/2007 17:09:24

just for the sake of conversation, i really wonder if legalizing illicit drugs would work. 1st look at alcohol, legal and deadly. there are more fatalities around the world from this " legalized " substance, and yet the addiction rate far outcedes everything except tobacco. i am including, driving fatalities, fights, both domestic ( family ) and street/ bar/ sporting and etc. not to mention liver failure as well as other medical related problems, PLUS, the addiction rate is staggering, but it is legal-and i bet it will be forever. if this substances was any-other drug i wonder ????? however i have NEVER been in the company of someone under the influence of cannabis who was violent ( straight cannabis ) now heroin and cocaine have serious side effects for the user as well. heroin, causes an array of addiction problems in itself mostly to the user, but cocaine is similar in its effects towards violent related incidences.
now, the subject of legalization is on the forum by many contributors, on the positive side, if legalization of drugs is passed taxes and quality control could benefit both the government and the recreational user, and by taking it out of the dealers hands then perhaps some of the children could stop this selling. now taxing it could boost profits for the economy as well as putting some of the money to programs to help rehabilitate chronic users.
if it is legalized for most people it would be deadly because of the easy access. but i feel these people will get it legal or not. just a thought for the sake of a discussion.

57

Onlooker,

04/03/2007 17:21:48

Hang EVERYBODY. That'll solve the problem permanently.

58

The Gorm,

Cda 04/03/2007 17:31:43

What ever happened to Devils Island? A great place for the pushers and the pushed together.

59

Martha,

04/03/2007 18:22:01

For every attempt that is made to infiltrate drug rings, there's a Hollywood airhead standing up and demanding legalization of drugs and anything else that is harmful and antisocial in nature. The police do what they can, but permissiveness is the biggest reason, of many reasons, why young children are now drug dealers in addition to the older dealers. Young children are not punished by the law. The parents of these children are not punished. The buyers are not punished. Instead, you get morons like the person above who called for legalizing the very drugs that are killing people.

Hey, stupid person!! Narcotics are very insidious. The first high you get is the best one. Then you have to take more and more to try to recreate that first and best high. Legal medical pain killers are just the same. The more morphine you take, the more you need to kill pain. NOW do you understand? You think these druggies are going to maintain the same dose in some disciplined way over the course of their lives? NOT!! They eventually O.D. and in the meantime, turn to theft and prostitution to support their habits. Prostitution leads to human trafficking to supply the brothels with these short-lived and tragic boys and girls. One crime leads to another and another.

This used to be called SIN. But sin is now old-fashioned. There is no morality anymore, because that's for old fogeys and the ignorant. You can't spank your kids for mouthing off to you and skipping school, and only weirdos and religious nuts go to church and learn about moral accountability.

So.. you've got the society you demanded.

60

Martha,

04/03/2007 18:28:46

Ghost chaser, right you are. Alcohol has killed more people in the USA than all the wars in our history. Most fatal traffic accidents are the result of alcohol or drugs or both. Domestic violence? Alcohol again. Gang killings and other street crimes? Drugs. Prostitution and drugs are siamese twins. HIV infection and drugs (in the developed world), ditto.

Addiction is an illness, but it is a lifestyle illness. The addict puts himself into this disease by choice. Those who supply him/her do it knowingly, and for the most crass of all reasons: money.

Drugs supply the Taliban and other terrorist groups, and we're stupid enough to let it go on and even call for it to be legalized, as if it's some innocuous thing that is a personal choice like what color suit to wear. When in fact, any addiction is highly destructive, whether it's gambling or compulsive shopping or taking narcotics or drinking to excess every single weekend. Innocent people somewhere along the line are hurt by this kind of behavior, and society pays a terrible price for it.

Leave it to some liberal jackass to mew that drugs ought to be legalized, that it's nothing to get excited over. What idiots they are, to be sure!

61

oldcopper,

dumfries 04/03/2007 19:02:20

I am not surprised at the situation regarding illegal drugs in Scotland.
In the 1970s I was a member of Glasgow Police Drug Squad and those of us at the `sharp end' could see what was coming regarding the abuse of controlled drugs in this Country.
Unfortunately, senior management would not listen to us and sat back complacently until the situation reached crisis point.
Politicians and others behaved likewise. If those in authority had paid attention to what we at `the coal face' were telling them we might have at least been ready for the problems which beset us today and in a better position to address them effectively.
I have not one scintilla of doubt that we have lost the so called `war against drugs.' The only way we can regain the high ground is to gradually legalise those recreational drugs which are currently illegal and evolve a sytem of control which removes the supply of these susbtances from the criminal element who are currently earning vast sums of money from their illegal activities.
If the State controlled the supply of these substances the criminal element would be eradicated from the equation. In addition, if those who choose to use what are currently illegal substances could obtain their supplies legally and at prices cheaper than those offered by today's illegal drug suppliers they would not need to commit crimes such as housebreaking, shoplifting robbery etc. to fund their addiction.
The process of controlled legalisation which I propose would undoubtedly lead to a real reduction in crime and not a reduction of the `statistics massaging' type which have become common in recent times.
There are those who fear controlled legalisation of drugs would lead to more people using them. There is simply no evidence to support this theory. Those wishing to use recreational drugs of whatever type will always do so, whether they are illegal or not, and those who do not wish to seek their pleasures in drug taking wil

62

ghost chaser,

on the other side of the pond 04/03/2007 19:04:56

martha, now we are starting a conversation on what people are thinking when it comes to the use of drugs and or other moral issue. if we try to figure into the equation of " morals " then do we have to make a continuous effort to help everyones problems or do we live and let live ? i pose this question not to oppose or support the issues. my beliefs are not for or against the legalization or the use of such mind altering substances. i really am interested in the world opinion on this heated issue. personally i do not drink alcohol, by choice ! the field i work in sees a whole lot of injured drunks and crying sniveling or angry or dead drunks and it is really sad to inform a family member that their loved one died from a alcohol related injury and it is worst to inform a family that a loved one, who was sober was injured or even killed by a user of a elicit substance.----- very sad !!!!

63

ghost chaser,

on the other side of the pond 04/03/2007 19:13:19

# 60 you have said what people who work in the field medical or policing feel on a daily basses. you are correct about prohibition in the US. during prohibition people hid in " speak easies " to get the " drink " or they would simply cross to the mexican border by droves. people WILL get what they want !!!!! when prohibition was appealed less and less people chose to drink, it took the fun out of the illegal practice. interesting isn't it !!!

64

DaiThePeace,

Aberdeenshire 04/03/2007 19:17:24

12. Paul Voltaire, SAYSThis story makes my smoking in the lavvy at school quaintly innocent.The strongest thing we ever smoked was a No.6

DAI SAYS PRECISELY. When you are young you get your kicks out of breaking rules.
Later on you get your kicks from setting the rules.

That is why a sensible government (at whatever level) sets tight rules so that people can break them without doing real damage.

65

Dekester,

Canada's westcoast 04/03/2007 19:47:55

Drugs, the average Joe in the street has no idea as to the power of influence of the drug trade.

My hometown in Scotland (not one of the big cities)

Is now under massive influence of a " drug tsar" he is a huge property developer. His interests are now mainstream.

His money came from drug distribution. He is well insulated, many on the lower scio economic levels of the community are in his pocket. They have no fear of authority. NONE!

Look after your community and forget the big picture.Politicians have no idea how to deal with the drug trade.
A great deal of the"old money" came out of illegal booze and tobacco sales. Much of the new money is drug related. Mortage companies, off shore trusts, gambling sites etc. Great places to wash dirty money clean


All the best Scotland.

66

ghost chaser,

on the other side of the pond 04/03/2007 20:04:00

one of our US presidents ( john f. kennedy ) family gained their great wealth by the sales and distribution of " bath tub gin " as well as moonshine, the father was a rum runner. that was during prohibition. during that time crime was at a all time high ( no pun intended ) now that history is repeating its self, what do we do????? like with prostitution we as a society have failed to stop it by making it illegal, now it has gone to movies for the billion dollar sex industry. and again if there is a want there is a way to get what you want.

67

Robb,

04/03/2007 20:15:35

#50. Bruce Borland, I don't get what you mean in regard to my posting at #33.

I said that kids from decent homes where there is parental guidance, good role modelling and time spent with them do not become 12 year old drug dealers. What I did NOT say was that all kids from dysfunctional homes DO become 12 year old drug dealers. Either you have misinterpreted what I said, or you are suggesting that William and Harry were dealing drugs at the age of 12. Given their dysfunctional family background, that in itself wouldn't surprise me, but I've never seen anything in the media about it, so perhaps you know something I don't!

68

Sambo,

The deep south 04/03/2007 21:04:10

#60 Oldcopper
Yes back in the 60's and 70's when Arthur Thompson and his thugs were starting to run drugs. The Glasgow police had officials on their payroll, even today guys like "The Licensee" McGraw can twist the police around his thumb.

69

Martha,

04/03/2007 21:11:37

Old copper, you certainly have a valid point of view and one that was gained over years of experience. But, I do not think that legalizing "recreational" drugs is the answer, because immediately somebody will claim that PCP is a recreational drug, when we know it is very damaging to the body. Even marijuana is suspect in genetic changes, especially among males.

And, don't point to Prohibition here to prove your point. Prohibition did actually do some good; it removed drunks from the streets where they had been previously in the gutters, bars were cleaned up and restrictions placed on their operation once Repeal happened, and who knows how many young people of that generation did NOT become alcoholics because they couldn't get their hands on the liquor?

Because of IV drug users who tend to support themselves by prostitution, HIV has moved into the heterosexual community. This alone ought to be enough to shut down the drug trade, or would you prefer some even worse and even more communicable disease to get started among the drug-using dregs of society and work its way into your neighborhood within a few months? It can happen in your country as easily as in ours.

Here in the USA, school children are taught from the earliest grade upwards about substance abuse, which is what we call it here, as the term includes alcohol as well as soft and hard drugs. In Junior High School, children are taught about HIV and its transmission. No doubt many children have kept away from such substances after being given graphic information about the damage they do.

The USA is basically a puritan country so public drunkenness was always frowned upon here (hence Prohibition in the first place), unlike the situation in the British Isles where inebriation is not looked down upon, and children in England actually go to the pubs with their parents and learn the drinking lifestyle from the very people who should be guiding them correctly.

But then

70

Martha,

04/03/2007 21:16:13

Why point to two victims, your princes William and Harry, as proving anything? They are to be pitied-- if you ask any American. They have a adulterer and muddle-headed twit for a father and an adulteress for a stepmother, and who has ever guided them correctly? The older one will never break free of the inherited fetters that control his every move, and the younger one is probably already hopeless, as he has grown up with absolutely no role to play except as the spare, and every opportunity to indulge himself in pasttimes that he should have been taught to avoid. From what I read in the papers, he even had his own bar in the basement of one of those castles or country homes or whatever, by the time he was 17. Is that proper parenting?

71

Sambo,

The deep south 04/03/2007 21:17:05

The drug addicts will go to any lengths to obtain money for their habit. What I see happening is bands of teens, out of their minds on drugs, breaking into houses to rob. Since it's against the law for a person in Scotland to own a firearm what chance has the average law abiding householder have if the police can't handle it. I say let the householder have a gun.

72

oldcopper,

dumfries 04/03/2007 21:52:11

#Sambo
You are quite correct.
When you have situations where there exists the complete (or almost complete) prohibition of recreational drugs,alcohol (just another drug anyway) gambling and prostitution you provide corrupt officials such as certain police officers with an opportunity to make money.
In prohibition Chicago, half the City's Police Department were receiving bribes from Al Capone's organisation. Honest cops were moved to outlying stations and their career prospects were nil.
I have been told by former British Police Officers who served when betting shops were illegal that some officers received money from bookmakers who wanted them to turn a blind eye to their activities. This situation changed overnight once betting shops were legalised in the early 1960s.
Corrupt officials bring the law into disrepute and one of the advantages of introducing controlled legalisation in such areas as recreational drugs use etc is that you lessen the opportunities for corruption.

73

archer,

usa 04/03/2007 21:59:04

the government here does get their share of profits from the drugs being sold, though they'll never admit to it.If there really was a "war on drugs", then there really wouldn't be a problem, the government has all the latest technology(spying on people in their own homes with advanced satellite systems,"big brother" watches and listens to our every move also through our telephone conversations and everything we do on the computers.
We, the people need to help our kids, boost their self esteem. A lot of kids who feel as if they don't have any friends, and feel like nobody likes them, gravitate towards the wrong crowd,the druggies, because the druggies accept them and pretend to be their friend. the kids get sucked up into that circle and do as their friends do, and the drug problems continue to go round and round. It's not just the poor, low-wage people's kids, the rich people's kids are very much involved too, they have access to as much money as they want, to get what they want,and all that means is that they don't have to go steal something to get money to feed their addiction,and the parents look the other way...they're in denial.
We need to put these young offenders in long-term, live-in rehabilitation centers, it should be mandatory for first time offenders, and longer stays for repeat offenders. It won't stop the problem but it would be a giant step in the right direction. The children today are the future leaders of tomorrow, scarey isn't it?

74

The Gorm,

Cda 04/03/2007 22:00:51

#70 Sambo
You wouldn't belong to the NRA lobby would you?Hand guns have increased the total number of drug related deaths as all concerned carry them in the USofA .Check Wiki for stats.
ie Check under Drug related shootings in the US.
(In New Orleans last month there were 6 such drug related deaths ).
On second thought give them all guns and make them legal and such murders would be acceptable.That should satisfy the gun lobby.
Lets return to Dodge City .Yee Haw!

75

Martha,

04/03/2007 22:13:36

Handguns aren't the answer because as many people die from firearm accidents as from intentional homicide.

Jeez, Archer, are you paranoid or what? You really think Big Brother cares about your phone calls? Do you know how difficult it is to get a judge to approve a phone tap?

We don't have a fraction of the surveillance cameras that watch every street in Britain, and you think you're being watched? Calm down, boy-- it isn't that bad.

76

Virgil,

Vancouver,BC 04/03/2007 22:28:19

Here in Vancouver, just two nights ago, suspicious activity inside an automobile caused police to investigate. A male and two female sex-trade workers were found in the proximity of a bag containing an illegal drug. The male was a well known entrepreneur,philanthropist and owner of major Western Airline. As he was being apprehended he was grabbing for his cellphone and screaming that he had to talk to Jaimie Graham (our police chief).No drug charges were laid since the bag of drugs was on the car seat in open view and it could not be proven which of the occupants wre responsible for themit there.
True NewsStory on TV.
My point in sharing this item is to emphasise the source of the Nile so to speak metaphorically, which is usually found at the highest levels of our society. It is a known fact that the US government was the biggest supplier of illegal drugs (bought from the Talibad) during the Viet Nam war and continues to turn a blind eye to the continuing insurgency leaving local police agencies to chase the monkey while the organ grinder enjoys the benefit of truffles and seclusion at the top. There is no "war" on drugs! There never has been and there never will be and to continue a dialogue offering solutions at the ground level is purely academic. Prohibition was a failure and a "real dumb idea" stated Franklin D. when he repealed it after gaining office in 1932. It made the boardroom crowd rich and criminalized the poor and the fact that Joseph Kennedy and Al Capone were bedfellows is irrelevant, its just another Horatio Alger story in the great American dream. The kids who are pushing drugs on the streets in Scotland and anywhere else are already victims of the trade and the first concern must be for them and their welfare and promise not to give up on them. It's like pulling a drowning man from the river, first duty, not trying to stop its flow.

77

Big Wullie,

Glasgow 04/03/2007 22:37:26

Please view all comments on both Videos


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WhJUjhequ4

78

Big Wullie,

Glasgow 04/03/2007 22:46:06

Not enough Police on our streets.
As much as i hate the police we also need them but the most obvious reason for more crime is the police prefer to sit on their fat Ars-- reading papers and booking motorists just to keep their statistics up
Try phoning a policeman about a noisey Neighbour or kids jumping on your car and see how long it takes them to respond.
If you catch someone committing a crime you are told to let them go or be charged with Kidnapping.
What a sorry state our country is in eh.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WhJUjhequ4

79

oldcopper,

dumfries 04/03/2007 22:47:24

#Martha
Controlled legalisation of drugs would not be a panacea but it would certainly be a vast improvement on the current scenario which provides criminals with opportunities to make vast sums of money and causes addicts to steal, rob and become involved in prostitution to sustain their addiction.
All this causes suffering to INNOCENT people which is what I wish to minimise or eradicate with a system of controlled legalisation.
I agree that ALL recreational drugs are damaging in some way to our bodies (which is why I use none of them) be they PCP,marijuana,alcohol or tobacco. That does not mean people will refrain from using them, whether they are illegal or not, and the effect of making them illegal is the chaotic situation we have today where many innocent people become victims of predatory drug addicts etc.
I am NOT particularly concerned with what harm those who take drugs do to THEMSELVES.They are self inflicting an illness on their own bodies and in view of all the publicity there has been about drug abuse over the years they are walking into the situation with their eyes wide open.
I AM concerned about the harm those who abuse drugs cause to other individuals and society in general.
I believe I am perfectly justified in pointing to Prohibition in the USA to prove my point as it has many similarities with the current situation regarding drugs in this,and other,countries.
No doubt Prohibition was a well meaning exercise, and did produce some benefits, but the overall effect was somewhat disastrous and, generally speaking, that was why it was repealed.
After repeal you ended up with a type of controlled legislation, in respect of the drug alcohol, which is what I am advocating should happen with other drugs.
We have educational input in our schools in the UK regarding all kinds of drug abuse,similar to that available in US schools. I have doubts about the effectiveness of such input but I agree we should provid

80

ghost chaser,

on the other side of the pond 04/03/2007 22:50:34

just think if viagra was made illegal do you think every tom, dick, and harry wouldn't seek it out. and there would be not one elected official who wasn't using it. just as most use the ' prostitutes ". people will get what they want NO matter what. the who idea of drug use ( for users ) is to feel good. they do not care what the side effects are. and if there is a profit even better, it is just fact. we can try to discourage the use, but in some it only heightens the mystery of the effects and unfortunately children are at the most risk due to curiosity.

81

Big Wullie,

Glasgow 04/03/2007 22:56:54

When growing up in the 70s the only people we saw with drugs was the students at our Colleges.
These people who were training to be lawyers doctors and even Polititions.
Could ths explain the Lax system in place now against drugs.
I have every sympathy for the Addicts it's like any other like smoking and Drinking.
Our Government should employ more Customs Officers and use more modern equipment at our ports.
The should also stop setting people up


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WhJUjhequ4

82

The Wizard,

OZ 04/03/2007 22:59:53

#42
I'm with you Jimmy. Hang the dealers.

Drugs are worldwide problem and as long as the dealers know they can get away with a few months or years in clink they will continue to traffic because the profits are huge..
The prospect of a wee drop with a rope round their neck would make them think twice.
No leeway, trafficking even the smallest amout gets you the drop, man or woman.
A wee partime job to supplement my pension would help so if someone is required to pull the lever, tie the legs, put the hood on etc., just let me know.

83

ghost chaser,

on the other side of the pond 04/03/2007 23:07:17

#77 i surly hope you didn't become big wullie by sitting on your fat a-s, you are wrong about most police. the vast majority of the force want to help the public, but laws restrict the extent of their abilities. the next time you hear of a criminal that was released because of a technicality even if the crime he did was so heinous. put yourself in a situation that you know what you are doing is the right thing and have someone kick you in the face every-time you take a step forward, what would you do? remember one thing, police are people with a very tough job. no one signs up for it just to harass the general public !!!

84

The Wizard,

OZ 04/03/2007 23:16:34

#82

The police are there to help the public!!!!

What part of cloud cuckoo land do you live in?

Their main task is collecting money from motorists.
Sitting miles out in the bush with a speed camera while old ladies get mugged in their homes, girls get raped and murdered.

A cop has the only job I know where the customer is always wrong.

85

Paula,

04/03/2007 23:28:14

Do you know what this needs?

Do you know what can solve all these problems immediately?

Free school meals.

Joke McConnells answer to everything.

Seriously though, I have lived across the road from druggies for nearly 6 years now. In that time there have been countless police raids, their baby nearly died from the other giving it a "pill" and the missus found a novel use for Kinder surprise plastic containers (think about it, what could go in it and where you could hide it, indeed.)

Nothing has happened to them though, no jail terms, nothing. Big signal sent out to the local kids though, drugs are fine, peddling drugs even better. This problem has been allowed to happen and hand-in-hand with high benefit dependency is what is holding the country back. Of course these are core Labour voters, in Labourland, wouldn't want to go putting them in jail until they get the vote.

No wonder the children are messed up, they have no moral compass anymore. Where is the fun if there is no boundaries to break and no consequences if you break them? (Not that I am saying to break the law but what is the challenge in being a kid if there are no rules to question?)

86

ghost chaser,

on the other side of the pond 04/03/2007 23:34:39

obviously #83 you don't have a clue about police. yes the police are to help the public, this is not an issue, the problem comes when the government won't spend the money it takes to hire the amount of officers so they can TRY to be everywhere they need to be. doesn't the UK have a highway patrol, or a special force to handle just the traffic aspect. but remember the government always put a higher enfaces on money, not the police. i wish i could say every cop on the force were all upstanding, but there are bad eggs amongst them as well. i have had problems with the police too. so i understand the frustration the public feels.

87

ghost chaser,

on the other side of the pond 04/03/2007 23:37:13

paula, i like free lunches, it just might work !!! great points

88

ghost chaser,

on the other side of the pond 05/03/2007 00:01:00

i have had close friends and family on the police force one was killed on a traffic stop by a man that was high on alcohol and meth. if you don't want any problems with law enforcement then don't break the law. we as a society need to find answers to the problem at hand, children dealing drugs. what is the answer, what can we do and who should face justice, the child or the dealer behind the child ? that is the question. good night, and take care.

89

Martha,

05/03/2007 00:13:26

Prohibition and its failure should not be the rationale for prohibiting dangerous drugs. And, just so you know we do get an education over here, Britain and the British are in no position to lecture or chastise any American about the drug trade. You are the people who conducted the Opium Wars, after all.

The reason for the problem is permissiveness. There was no drug problem when I was a kid, because we did not have a permissive society in the 1950s. It all changed in the 60s and 70s; but prior to that time, America was a really lovely place to live. You can blame television or the baby boom or anything and everything you like; the reasons for the societal upheaval are many. Lots of things happened at the same time: the Pill, the coming of age of the baby boom, the ubiquitous tube in everyone's living room, mass advertising, the reaction against Vietnam (which in itself is a triumph of media frenzy over truth and reason), a growing affluence and new mobility, and so on and so forth.

But unpinning it all is permissiveness and the deterioration of any idea of personal responsibility and accountability. "Do Your Own Thing" was the word of the hour, and that put paid to a civil, orderly society for two decades. We're still in the fallout from that.

90

Scottie,

05/03/2007 12:51:59

#36, I agree. Maybe there could be 'posters', like on the milk cartons for missing children, showing real scenes of this dealing? Maybe every school should regularly show some films of the really ugly side of taking drugs? Short films of course, as their attention span and concentration skills have probably gone for a ball and chalk.

#69, do check up on the good works that Harry & William are doing sometime. They are entitled to a little bit of flings in their youth, what uni student didn't have too much to drink sometime? How many of them spend weeks in a poor African country working with the unfortunate children?

91

James Davies,

South Wales 05/03/2007 14:53:58

This is excellent article from the Scotsman by Murdo MaCleod, I have printed this details the danger of drugs now easy children are getting drug.
I am concern the problems here in Wales. I will keep a record of this in yesterday article.

92

Virgil,

Vancouver,BC 05/03/2007 20:08:17

To Martha's #88...one short comment,
Prior to the 60's and the 70's America was NOT a
lovely place to live as you claim.
Since 1946 it was wrought with McCarthyism and paranoia providing a state equal in police actionse qualled only by the Nazi state of Germany.
Intelligent Americans rose up to fight against this evil and were blacklisted in life, many never to work again. Please Martha, understand your country's history and avoid the defence of parochialism.

93

richtee,

06/03/2007 00:32:12

#93 speak like all the time this in Wales do you?

94

Spock,

/ 09/03/2007 13:42:40

So what would the Tory spokesman solve it?


 

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