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Soft on crime

3:30pm Friday 30th July 2010 in


Once again the Conservative Party is giving mixed messages in its attitude to fighting crime. While the new Tory MP for Hove, Mike Weatherley, seems to believe that drug addicts are not criminals and advocates that they should not be sent to prison (The Argus, July 28), the Conservatives’ election manifesto claimed that the party would “force the police to focus on crimes that affect communities”.

Of course, no one is suggesting that all drug addicts are criminals, but when they engage in criminal activities to feed their habit, they quite patently are – and deserve to be treated as such.

It’s interesting that Mr Weatherley should only now reveal his apparently liberal attitude towards drug addicts rather than when he was campaigning to represent the people of Hove and Portslade.

And instead of criticising those who claiming incapacity benefit as a result of their drug abuse, Mr Weatherley appears to be making excuses for them.

I think many electors will be dismayed to discover they have an MP who seems to favour a policy of being soft on crime and soft on the causes of crime.

Peter Lilley
Salisbury Road, Hove

Comments(6)

Masterchav says...
3:48pm Fri 30 Jul 10

"Of course, no one is suggesting that all drug addicts are criminals" .... and then you go on to effectively suggest that all drug addicts are criminals. Have you thought this through? It doesn't look like it.

Why don't you take this up with your MP instead of writing to the local paper?

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Andy R says...
4:22pm Fri 30 Jul 10

Yes a remarkably confused letter. Some people addicted to drugs will go through life without committing any offences - in fact most probably would if we swept away our daft laws on drugs and enabled addicts a stable and clean source of supply.

And why should be any part of an MP's job to "criticise" people who have gone through the process of applying for a benefit and been found to be entitled to it?

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Mr Pickwick says...
6:23pm Fri 30 Jul 10

Seems to me that if an addicted person is committing crime, you treat the addiction to prevent future crime and Mr Weatherley is simply stating the obvious. That it needs stating is evidenced by letters such as this one.

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mtmoocher says...
9:53pm Fri 30 Jul 10

Tory MP advocates services for drug abusers & addicts. Tory-led coalition announces cuts to mental health services in Sussex with possible 100 job losses. Then move them out of work people up north where the jobs are(?) & it's cheaper to maintain
them. Cull the OAP's next by raising the retirement age & working them into the ground.
Straight out the little black book except they will get a travel warrant rather than suffer a long march!

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rayellerton says...
2:50pm Sat 31 Jul 10

this is a rarity...I agree with Andy R!!

lol

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Andre Spooner says...
12:54pm Mon 2 Aug 10

Just a minute - is this the same Peter Lilley who is the Conservative MP for Harpenden and Hitchin? I think we should be told!


Wow, my security word was "get-on-your-bike"?!

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