Do We Have to Be the Drug Traffickers' Best Friends?
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X8405700402 |
| Published date | 01 October 1984 |
| Date | 01 October 1984 |
| Author | C. Corbett |
| Subject Matter | Article |
COMMANDER
C. CORBETT
ell
Branch. New Scotland Yard.
DO
WE
HAVE
TO BE THE
DRUG
TRAFFICKERS' BEST FRIENDS?
Although in some parts of the World the abuse of drugs is as old as
time itself, in the historical context of criminality in Britain
widespread drug trafficking and misuse is a very recent
phenomenon and arguably has the potential of having agreater
effect upon
our
society in the form of death
and
family misery
than
anything outside another majorwar, should the correct attention not
be addressed to our present situation.
Whilst it may be alleged from outside
our
service, and sometimes
admitted from within, that
our
"clear-up" figures for reported crime,
generally, should be higher -perhaps a lot higher - what can
legitimately be said
about
drug orientated crime? This type of crime
is rather like receiving stolen goods in that it is seldom reported
unless an arrest is effected. Should we be more successful,
numerically speaking, in relation to the discovery of such offences by
the increased apprehension of the consumers? Or, should we be far
more specific in
our
determination to eradicate the problem from a
different direction by prosecuting more successfully only a few - the
few who really count?
Many readers may be thinking
that
a real alternative is not being
posed by such a question since they will feel
that
there is something
singularly negative and unproductive
about
gaoling addicts, or
imposing fiscal penalties on frequently impecunious members of
society. Conversely, such sentiments will not be thought appropriate
in the case of traffickers, illegal importers and entrepreneurs of this
filthy trade. "But how do we get to them properly?" you may be
saying, "through the consumers and then onwards and upwards
through the supply chains, or from the top working downwards to
the street?"
Apeculiarity of drug crime is
that
the vast majority of offenders
are also victims. A variety of victim, however, when speaking of
"hard"
drugs, from whom Police invariably hear nothing until it is
too
late, by virtue of their admission to hospital or a morgue. In both
instances nothing is likely to be learned about accomplices or those
responsible for incitingthe victim to commit suicide for the foul gain
of others.
The
full reasons for our backwardness as a nation to grapple
effectively with the overall problem is
too
intricate for this article,
since some complicated avenues would require exploration
involving politics, education, religion, medical ethics and aspects of
social science concerned with change in the nuclear family. Remedy,
October /984 311
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