3:30pm Friday 30th July 2010
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
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