Australia: Former Federal Police commissioner calls for decriminalisation of drugs

A former head of the AFP has called for drug use to be decriminalised.

Mick Palmer, who was the Australian Federal Police commissioner for seven years, said with the number of arrests and seizures increasing each year, it had become clear prohibition wasn't working. 

He told Neil Mitchell while policing had improved, it's had little effect on reducing the supply of drugs.

Mr Palmer said society couldn't police its way out of the problem.

"I think we need to be prepared to look at decriminalisation," he said on 3AW Mornings.

"The ways in which we would regulate the market and take the market place away from organised crime and criminal market place.

"That way you control the quality of what people are purchasing, you have an education program that of course continues to emphasise the fact that illicit drugs aren't only illicit, but are bad for you."

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URL: 
http://www.3aw.com.au/news/former-federal-police-commissioner-calls-for-decriminalisation-of-drugs-20150611-ghldop.html