Chairman of Bar Council creates storm with call for drug decriminalisation
23 July 2010
Nicholas Green QC, Chairman of the Bar Council, has risked the wrath of the Daily Mail by arguing that decriminalising personal drug use is "rational".

In his July report to the Bar Council, Green wrote that government money could be saved by the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use. Green argued that the "tabloids' response, which is to throw more people into custody" has failed - and is expensive as reducing the prison population from 85,000 to a mere 80,000 would save £200 million a year. What's more Green claimed decriminalisation could also improve public health - although it does seem possible that a decriminalised junkie population might present a few new health problems.
 

Nicholas Green QC yesterday*

Naturally enough, and as Green himself predicted, the Westminster chattering classes have reacted with horror. Keith Vaz MP - no stranger to scandal himself - was "shocked". Philip Davies MP called it "ludicrous", stating that decriminalisation in the name of saving money and time was "an argument to legalise everything".

The Bar Council told RollOnFriday that the report "is not an accurate representation of Nick Green’s position. Instead his views were expressed in the context of a broader exploration of finding efficiencies in the justice system which would save money but crucially be in the interests of justice. The Chairman of the Bar is not calling for the decriminalisation of drugs, and plainly recommends an evidence based approach and an informed debate utilising this comparitive evidence".

*Photo of the Chairman of the Bar Council enjoying a cheeky toke created with Photoshop magic and may not accurately reflect Mr Green's personal recreational pursuits.