Police chief 'talking nonsense' on drugs

Nigel Waterson, Tory member for Eastbourne, accused Paul Whitehouse of "demoralising" his own officers by calling for a national debate on the subject.

Mr Whitehouse said prohibition on drugs was not working and it was time for a national discussion on alternative policies.

He said he did not favour legalisation but the debate should include legalising soft drugs like cannabis.

Mr Waterson said: "I am frankly amazed the most senior policeman in Sussex, responsible for the enforcement of anti-drugs laws in our area, can speak in these terms.

"If you talk to experts in the field, they will tell you that the vast majority of heroin and cocaine addicts started on cannabis.

"This is the sort of dangerous nonsense we have come to expect from the Liberal Democrats, but surely not from a senior officer."

The news came as Tory leader William Hague failed to back Shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe's zero tolerence policy on cannabis.

Mr Whitehouse has found support among some Sussex MPs.

Des Turner, Labour MP for Brighton Kemp Town, said he agreed with the Chief Constable.

He said: "Mr Whitehouse, like other senior police officers, believes prohibition has not worked and the time has come for adult discussion.

Mr Turner thought there was a "strong case" for decriminalising cannabis. He said: "It seems a lot of people are simply terrified of even talking about the subject."

Hove Labour MP Ivor Caplin supports the chief constable but expressed doubts about decriminalising cannabis.

His Labour colleague in Crawley, Laura Moffatt, said the comments were "superb". She said: "It is a particular interest of mine and I support the idea of a debate, if for no other reason than to expose how cannabis is twice as carcinogenic as tobacco."

David Lepper, Labour MP for Brighton Pavilion, did not criticise Mr Whitehouse but did oppose the idea.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Francis Maude is the only Sussex MP to have admitted trying cannabis.