The Sunday Telegraph is reporting that a senior British policeman has called for the decriminalization of hard drugs.

“Chief Supt Anthony Wills, the borough commander of Hammersmith and Fulham in London, said that as the state could not control the criminal trade in drugs, it should take it over instead.

“I would have no problems with decriminalising drugs full stop,” said Mr Wills. “There have to be very stringent measures over the production and supply of drugs and we have got to remove the drug market from criminals. I do not want people to take drugs but if they are going to, I want them to take them safely, with a degree of purity and in a controlled way.””

He makes a strong case – and one that is at least worthy of serious debate. Needless to say, Britain’s hapless Conservatives respond with bluster and blather. As the Telegraph reports:

“Last night his decision to air his views caused a row. Senior Conservatives said he would encourage young people to think that taking drugs was supported by the police and called on him to issue a retraction.

Ann Widdecombe, the former shadow home secretary, said: “When young people read views like this from a senior policeman they get the impression that taking drugs is okay – well it isn’t. Hard drugs kill people and cannabis is proven scientifically to be harmful.””

What is it about individual responsibility that the Tories do not understand?