Ceasefire?

Here's something likely to go down like a fart in a lift with the powers-that-be: a chief constable claiming that the so-called war on drugs has "comprehensively failed" and that tactics need to change, starting by decriminalising Class A drugs.

You wonder whether Mike Barton will be forced out of his job as a result of the interview, in the same way that former drugs tsar David Nutt was - after all, he's also underlined the uncomfortable truth that problems associated with alcohol are more significant, prevalent and costly. Or will the government actually heed the advice they're being given this time, rather than stick dogmatically to principles? I wouldn't hold your breath...

Needless to say, the Daily Heil was quick to note that the interview was with the "Left-wing Observer newspaper" and claim that Barton's comments had been met with anger - though readers' responses beneath the article suggest that not for the first time any anger was largely confined to the rag's offices...