Armed police swoop in firearms drama in Boscombe (From Thisisdorset)

Fantastic news. Even if you don't live in Boscombe the implications of drugs crime affects us all. The number of burglaries and amount of prostitution needed to fund a drug habit is astronomical and no matter how careful you are locking up your house or car someone whose body will go into withdrawal if they don't get their drugs that day is going to be pretty determined to get in.

ashleycross wrote:
Fantastic news. Even if you don't live in Boscombe the implications of drugs crime affects us all. The number of burglaries and amount of prostitution needed to fund a drug habit is astronomical and no matter how careful you are locking up your house or car someone whose body will go into withdrawal if they don't get their drugs that day is going to be pretty determined to get in.

Hmmm not sure if it is 'drug related' however agree that Boscombe is notorious for providing a 'fix'. Now guns just adds to the list.

Maybe they had information relating to a red mobility scooter from Christchurch.

High Treason wrote:
Maybe they had information relating to a red mobility scooter from Christchurch.

I saw a Dalek at Castlepoint once. They may look harmless but those things on their heads.... not for unblocking the toilet you know.

You let one in and before you know it, they've taken over Boscombe AND Christchurch.

DALEK IMMIGRATION - STOP THIS MADNESS NOW

what is this world coming to

ashleycross wrote:
Fantastic news. Even if you don't live in Boscombe the implications of drugs crime affects us all. The number of burglaries and amount of prostitution needed to fund a drug habit is astronomical and no matter how careful you are locking up your house or car someone whose body will go into withdrawal if they don't get their drugs that day is going to be pretty determined to get in.

Yes, and that's why it should be legalised, licensed and controlled!

This wasn't Gazza was it ? Wished Id have know cause I would have taken him a fishing rod, tent and some cooked chicken ... lol

I know a bloke who has a shotgun, has had it for 54 years,
I hope they dont raid his place, he would die of a heart attack.
Or his wife would destroy them. (He keeps it to keep her under control!).

lisa401 wrote:

ashleycross wrote:
Fantastic news. Even if you don't live in Boscombe the implications of drugs crime affects us all. The number of burglaries and amount of prostitution needed to fund a drug habit is astronomical and no matter how careful you are locking up your house or car someone whose body will go into withdrawal if they don't get their drugs that day is going to be pretty determined to get in.

Yes, and that's why it should be legalised, licensed and controlled!

Yeah that would solve it cos when people had what they were entitled to they would just say fair enough no more for me! And the underground world of drug dealing would just go away, and the money required by people wanting drugs would be acquired by hard work not by stealing.... oh hold on!!!

tricky1007 wrote:

lisa401 wrote:

ashleycross wrote:
Fantastic news. Even if you don't live in Boscombe the implications of drugs crime affects us all. The number of burglaries and amount of prostitution needed to fund a drug habit is astronomical and no matter how careful you are locking up your house or car someone whose body will go into withdrawal if they don't get their drugs that day is going to be pretty determined to get in.

Yes, and that's why it should be legalised, licensed and controlled!

Yeah that would solve it cos when people had what they were entitled to they would just say fair enough no more for me! And the underground world of drug dealing would just go away, and the money required by people wanting drugs would be acquired by hard work not by stealing.... oh hold on!!!

Hard work! Most drug users are to lethargic and out of touch with reality to sweep the roads. Legalising it would mean more drug related accidents, more admitted to St Anne's and more child neglect with more women abused because they are out of their minds. Drug users are a drain on society and are simply committing slow suicide at the expense of others.

I am not comfortable with this, we saw similar in London recently.
The image is over the top and far too sinister, annonymous police or under cover terrorists? Spot the difference.
Para military style police kitted out exactly in the style of a futuristic movie, no identity numbers, faces hidden under (IRA style) balaclavas, fancy new metallic mega-pounds mercedes van.
There is more than a hint of big boys toys about the whole thing - and this theatrical Operation just happened to be laid on for the day the media and the Home Secretary were in Town for a Police conference?
The Police have a difficult job to do, but it should be discharged with the time honoured restraint and dignity the public expect. This exercise was not a game I trust, but it looked like it was dress up playtime - that is the problem.

muscliffman wrote:
I am not comfortable with this, we saw similar in London recently.
The image is over the top and far too sinister, annonymous police or under cover terrorists? Spot the difference.
Para military style police kitted out exactly in the style of a futuristic movie, no identity numbers, faces hidden under (IRA style) balaclavas, fancy new metallic mega-pounds mercedes van.
There is more than a hint of big boys toys about the whole thing - and this theatrical Operation just happened to be laid on for the day the media and the Home Secretary were in Town for a Police conference?
The Police have a difficult job to do, but it should be discharged with the time honoured restraint and dignity the public expect. This exercise was not a game I trust, but it looked like it was dress up playtime - that is the problem.

Fancy new van? 05 plate suggests its 7 years old. If I were part of team dealing armed criminals I'd like a level of anonymity too. All the Police Officers I know are hard working, caring and professional. If the best tools for the job look like boys toys so be it.

Muscliffman, you are the kind of hand wringer that has allowed this country to fall to it's knees.

It's time for the police to take to take control and if that means a few doors get kicked in then so be it.

Maybe the solution would be to flatten the Boscombe Ghetto like we did with Dresden!!

Obviously evacuate the decent folks first!!

High Treason wrote:

tricky1007 wrote:

lisa401 wrote:

ashleycross wrote: Fantastic news. Even if you don't live in Boscombe the implications of drugs crime affects us all. The number of burglaries and amount of prostitution needed to fund a drug habit is astronomical and no matter how careful you are locking up your house or car someone whose body will go into withdrawal if they don't get their drugs that day is going to be pretty determined to get in.

Yes, and that's why it should be legalised, licensed and controlled!

Yeah that would solve it cos when people had what they were entitled to they would just say fair enough no more for me! And the underground world of drug dealing would just go away, and the money required by people wanting drugs would be acquired by hard work not by stealing.... oh hold on!!!

Hard work! Most drug users are to lethargic and out of touch with reality to sweep the roads. Legalising it would mean more drug related accidents, more admitted to St Anne's and more child neglect with more women abused because they are out of their minds. Drug users are a drain on society and are simply committing slow suicide at the expense of others.

Most drug users hold down a job, pax taxes and get on just fine as productive members of society.

Horridbloke wrote:
High Treason wrote:
tricky1007 wrote: lisa401 wrote: ashleycross wrote: Fantastic news. Even if you don't live in Boscombe the implications of drugs crime affects us all. The number of burglaries and amount of prostitution needed to fund a drug habit is astronomical and no matter how careful you are locking up your house or car someone whose body will go into withdrawal if they don't get their drugs that day is going to be pretty determined to get in.Yes, and that's why it should be legalised, licensed and controlled!Yeah that would solve it cos when people had what they were entitled to they would just say fair enough no more for me! And the underground world of drug dealing would just go away, and the money required by people wanting drugs would be acquired by hard work not by stealing.... oh hold on!!!Hard work! Most drug users are to lethargic and out of touch with reality to sweep the roads. Legalising it would mean more drug related accidents, more admitted to St Anne's and more child neglect with more women abused because they are out of their minds. Drug users are a drain on society and are simply committing slow suicide at the expense of others.Most drug users hold down a job, pax taxes and get on just fine as productive members of society."Most drug users hold down a job, pax taxes and get on just fine as productive members of society."
You are from which planet exactly??

alexofd wrote:

muscliffman wrote:
I am not comfortable with this, we saw similar in London recently.
The image is over the top and far too sinister, annonymous police or under cover terrorists? Spot the difference.
Para military style police kitted out exactly in the style of a futuristic movie, no identity numbers, faces hidden under (IRA style) balaclavas, fancy new metallic mega-pounds mercedes van.
There is more than a hint of big boys toys about the whole thing - and this theatrical Operation just happened to be laid on for the day the media and the Home Secretary were in Town for a Police conference?
The Police have a difficult job to do, but it should be discharged with the time honoured restraint and dignity the public expect. This exercise was not a game I trust, but it looked like it was dress up playtime - that is the problem.

Fancy new van? 05 plate suggests its 7 years old. If I were part of team dealing armed criminals I'd like a level of anonymity too. All the Police Officers I know are hard working, caring and professional. If the best tools for the job look like boys toys so be it.

The van pictured on here is not metallic and is indeed an '05' plate,. But the Merc van shown at the scene for this story (page 2) in the hardcopy Echo is a gleaming grey metallic on a '61' plate.
I hear your other points and did not suggest front-line Officers were anything but what you say. The 'spin' aspects and timing of this 'operation' as I suggest would have been the idea of someone from higher up the Force.
However anonymous Police = unaccountable Police - not good.

muscliffman wrote:
I am not comfortable with this, we saw similar in London recently.
The image is over the top and far too sinister, annonymous police or under cover terrorists? Spot the difference.
Para military style police kitted out exactly in the style of a futuristic movie, no identity numbers, faces hidden under (IRA style) balaclavas, fancy new metallic mega-pounds mercedes van.
There is more than a hint of big boys toys about the whole thing - and this theatrical Operation just happened to be laid on for the day the media and the Home Secretary were in Town for a Police conference?
The Police have a difficult job to do, but it should be discharged with the time honoured restraint and dignity the public expect. This exercise was not a game I trust, but it looked like it was dress up playtime - that is the problem.
--------------------
--------------

They dress the way they do for maximum impact; it is designed to add an element of fear to the person they are arresting and, especially when firearms are involved the arresting officers take all available precautions for not only them but the general public. Armed officers have dressed this way for the last 20 years, operations are conducted in the morning to catch offenders off-guard and to ensure there is minimum impact and danger to the general public. It's quite simple really and nothing to concern yourself with. Unless of course you feel the Police should arrive say mid-morning, give everybody chance to have a lye-in maybe some breakfast? they could give him a courtesy call prior to the raid just to say that he might see things that may scare him.

Justin666 wrote:
Horridbloke wrote: High Treason wrote: tricky1007 wrote: lisa401 wrote: ashleycross wrote: Fantastic news. Even if you don't live in Boscombe the implications of drugs crime affects us all. The number of burglaries and amount of prostitution needed to fund a drug habit is astronomical and no matter how careful you are locking up your house or car someone whose body will go into withdrawal if they don't get their drugs that day is going to be pretty determined to get in.Yes, and that's why it should be legalised, licensed and controlled!Yeah that would solve it cos when people had what they were entitled to they would just say fair enough no more for me! And the underground world of drug dealing would just go away, and the money required by people wanting drugs would be acquired by hard work not by stealing.... oh hold on!!!Hard work! Most drug users are to lethargic and out of touch with reality to sweep the roads. Legalising it would mean more drug related accidents, more admitted to St Anne's and more child neglect with more women abused because they are out of their minds. Drug users are a drain on society and are simply committing slow suicide at the expense of others.Most drug users hold down a job, pax taxes and get on just fine as productive members of society."Most drug users hold down a job, pax taxes and get on just fine as productive members of society." You are from which planet exactly??Justin666 wrote:
You are from which planet exactly??

Planet Earth. Yourself?

muscliffman wrote:
I am not comfortable with this, we saw similar in London recently.
The image is over the top and far too sinister, annonymous police or under cover terrorists? Spot the difference.
Para military style police kitted out exactly in the style of a futuristic movie, no identity numbers, faces hidden under (IRA style) balaclavas, fancy new metallic mega-pounds mercedes van.
There is more than a hint of big boys toys about the whole thing - and this theatrical Operation just happened to be laid on for the day the media and the Home Secretary were in Town for a Police conference?
The Police have a difficult job to do, but it should be discharged with the time honoured restraint and dignity the public expect. This exercise was not a game I trust, but it looked like it was dress up playtime - that is the problem.

I too am uncomfortable with the extreme right.

The one on the extreme right in this picture looks like the Robinsons golly in a hard hat.

Can we be sure these confiscated guns will be MELTED DOWN and not just 'de-commissioned'.

The world is getting smaller
and Miami Vice seems to be
getting near our shores!

muscliffman wrote:
I am not comfortable with this, we saw similar in London recently.
The image is over the top and far too sinister, annonymous police or under cover terrorists? Spot the difference.
Para military style police kitted out exactly in the style of a futuristic movie, no identity numbers, faces hidden under (IRA style) balaclavas, fancy new metallic mega-pounds mercedes van.
There is more than a hint of big boys toys about the whole thing - and this theatrical Operation just happened to be laid on for the day the media and the Home Secretary were in Town for a Police conference?
The Police have a difficult job to do, but it should be discharged with the time honoured restraint and dignity the public expect. This exercise was not a game I trust, but it looked like it was dress up playtime - that is the problem.

It is fairly obvious you know absolutely nothing about police procedures or equipment. The police officers involved will have visible identification on their uniform somewhere, probably on the front of their body armour. The balaclavas and goggles they wear, are not primarily to hide their identity, but to provide protection to their faces, they are made of Kevlar & Nomex, as are their gloves. How exactly would you like to see officers dressed & equipped when dealing with armed suspects? Would you like to go into a situation like that wearing only a stab vest, and armed with nothing more than a baton & CS spray? I know I wouldn't.

The police have a difficult
dangerous job at the best of
times without them it would
be a case of every man for
himself, being vigilant is a good
way to protect ourselves.

portia6 wrote:
The world is getting smaller
and Miami Vice seems to be
getting near our shores!

Crockett & Tubbs wouldn't have been seen dead in that gear, or Reagan's Sweeney mob. 'Giz a fag George.'

Many drugs users live 'normal' lives, working and raising families. Alcohol use can be problematic. But it would be wrong to lump all 'alcohol users' together. Same with illegal drugs. There are those that use and those that abuse. This story isn't about drugs anyway. It's about guns. The Guns of Boscombe.

Horridbloke wrote:

High Treason wrote:

tricky1007 wrote:

lisa401 wrote:

ashleycross wrote: Fantastic news. Even if you don't live in Boscombe the implications of drugs crime affects us all. The number of burglaries and amount of prostitution needed to fund a drug habit is astronomical and no matter how careful you are locking up your house or car someone whose body will go into withdrawal if they don't get their drugs that day is going to be pretty determined to get in.

Yes, and that's why it should be legalised, licensed and controlled!

Yeah that would solve it cos when people had what they were entitled to they would just say fair enough no more for me! And the underground world of drug dealing would just go away, and the money required by people wanting drugs would be acquired by hard work not by stealing.... oh hold on!!!

Hard work! Most drug users are to lethargic and out of touch with reality to sweep the roads. Legalising it would mean more drug related accidents, more admitted to St Anne's and more child neglect with more women abused because they are out of their minds. Drug users are a drain on society and are simply committing slow suicide at the expense of others.

Most drug users hold down a job, pax taxes and get on just fine as productive members of society.

Absolutely. Many people prefer to subscribe to the idea that drug users or 'druggies' are those on the lower socio economic scale. Those who you see frequenting areas of Boscombe and living in bedsits. Such is the level of ignorance demonstrated when it comes to anything drug related. Of course there are people like that who use drugs, but equally there are high functioning people of high calibre in professional careers who use recreational drugs, but they have the means to support their habit. If drugs were legalised and controlled it wouldn't solve ALL drug related problems, but it would solve many. Alcohol is legal after all.

I do not usually give personal details when commenting on articles bur I am a qualified Pharmacist (working in the wholesale pharmaceutical industry) so I do have a wealth of knowledge about 'drugs' (including illegal substances).

High Treason wrote:

tricky1007 wrote:

lisa401 wrote:

ashleycross wrote:
Fantastic news. Even if you don't live in Boscombe the implications of drugs crime affects us all. The number of burglaries and amount of prostitution needed to fund a drug habit is astronomical and no matter how careful you are locking up your house or car someone whose body will go into withdrawal if they don't get their drugs that day is going to be pretty determined to get in.

Yes, and that's why it should be legalised, licensed and controlled!

Yeah that would solve it cos when people had what they were entitled to they would just say fair enough no more for me! And the underground world of drug dealing would just go away, and the money required by people wanting drugs would be acquired by hard work not by stealing.... oh hold on!!!

Hard work! Most drug users are to lethargic and out of touch with reality to sweep the roads. Legalising it would mean more drug related accidents, more admitted to St Anne's and more child neglect with more women abused because they are out of their minds. Drug users are a drain on society and are simply committing slow suicide at the expense of others.

Good point and would make the biggest growth industry in this country the NHS and childrens social services

I would not trust a copper with a gun
I wouldn't trust him with a water pistol
I would be in the loft with the lodger shaking like a leaf.

Where in the article does it say anything about drugs other than that a neighbour thought the raid may have been something to do with drugs?

Is that a swastika on the front of that van??

Bournefre wrote:
Where in the article does it say anything about drugs other than that a neighbour thought the raid may have been something to do with drugs?

Why are they all 'tooled' up, if it was just for drugs?

Are they Heckler & Koch guns??
German weapons in a German vehicle dresses like.... That's supposed to make us feel safe!!

ben131297 wrote:
Are they Heckler & Koch guns??
German weapons in a German vehicle dresses like.... That's supposed to make us feel safe!!

Think of it as Homepride man meets the black and white minstrels. You'll feel much better

Not sure if this is related but when I drove past there at the same time when this happened I seen the police had closed off the round, a person was laid flat on the floor and there was BLOOD everywhere, there was so much blood in fact I thought someone had been killed.

Police should learn full disclosure, and courts should relise that details should be released in the interest of these local community's.

brilliant...lets all blame the police! How about we all go on the dole, get off our minds on god knows what and blame society, it would be easier than working for a living and we could all blame someone else for our choices!How about we all grow a pair and realise that the reason people make these idiotic lifestyle choices is because they want to and that they can rely on the bleeding heart brigade to say it is not there fault! seriously people ...get a grip!

muscliffman says...
11:25am Thu 17 May 12

Firstly, the officers are not anonymous. They are wearing their warrant cards on their uniform which contain their photograph, name, rank & collar number. In fact you can see one of the officers wearing his warrant card on the photo above.

Secondly, they should be able to cover their faces. The fact that this photo was plastered all over the paper is total justification for their faces being covered. Armed officers should not be identified by having their faces splashed all over the papers, for the added protection of themselves and their families.

lisa401 wrote:

Horridbloke wrote:

High Treason wrote:

tricky1007 wrote:

lisa401 wrote:

ashleycross wrote: Fantastic news. Even if you don't live in Boscombe the implications of drugs crime affects us all. The number of burglaries and amount of prostitution needed to fund a drug habit is astronomical and no matter how careful you are locking up your house or car someone whose body will go into withdrawal if they don't get their drugs that day is going to be pretty determined to get in.

Yes, and that's why it should be legalised, licensed and controlled!

Yeah that would solve it cos when people had what they were entitled to they would just say fair enough no more for me! And the underground world of drug dealing would just go away, and the money required by people wanting drugs would be acquired by hard work not by stealing.... oh hold on!!!

Hard work! Most drug users are to lethargic and out of touch with reality to sweep the roads. Legalising it would mean more drug related accidents, more admitted to St Anne's and more child neglect with more women abused because they are out of their minds. Drug users are a drain on society and are simply committing slow suicide at the expense of others.

Most drug users hold down a job, pax taxes and get on just fine as productive members of society.

Absolutely. Many people prefer to subscribe to the idea that drug users or 'druggies' are those on the lower socio economic scale. Those who you see frequenting areas of Boscombe and living in bedsits. Such is the level of ignorance demonstrated when it comes to anything drug related. Of course there are people like that who use drugs, but equally there are high functioning people of high calibre in professional careers who use recreational drugs, but they have the means to support their habit. If drugs were legalised and controlled it wouldn't solve ALL drug related problems, but it would solve many. Alcohol is legal after all.

I do not usually give personal details when commenting on articles bur I am a qualified Pharmacist (working in the wholesale pharmaceutical industry) so I do have a wealth of knowledge about 'drugs' (including illegal substances).

ok tell me how it would solve problems, and most problems are caused by the low life we see round Boscombe and other such areas. The way i see it if it was legalised recreational users could just get hold of it easier, but the low life would still need to steal to feed their habit. And what drugs would you legalise? all of them? because when people become hooked on drugs and want something stronger will you provide that as well, maybe something like Acetorphine which is used to tranqualise rhinos! Because the misuse of drugs is not solved by just legalising it, thats a very black & white way of looking at it. And yes alcohol is a drug to, and maybe one day that will be banned! but just because we already use one type of drug why should we allow another one to help hurt people

We live in the age of terrorism. The Police do not know what they will come up against so they need to have maximum impact. You should be grateful we don't live in Los Angeles where they use a police version of a military APC for their raids.

portia6 wrote:
The world is getting smaller
and Miami Vice seems to be
getting near our shores!

I have been to down-town Miami, and Fort Lauderdale where most of the series was shot.

I have also walked through the streets of Boscombe.

I felt so much safer in Florida!

tricky1007 wrote:

lisa401 wrote:

Horridbloke wrote:

High Treason wrote:

tricky1007 wrote:

lisa401 wrote:

ashleycross wrote: Fantastic news. Even if you don't live in Boscombe the implications of drugs crime affects us all. The number of burglaries and amount of prostitution needed to fund a drug habit is astronomical and no matter how careful you are locking up your house or car someone whose body will go into withdrawal if they don't get their drugs that day is going to be pretty determined to get in.

Yes, and that's why it should be legalised, licensed and controlled!

Yeah that would solve it cos when people had what they were entitled to they would just say fair enough no more for me! And the underground world of drug dealing would just go away, and the money required by people wanting drugs would be acquired by hard work not by stealing.... oh hold on!!!

Hard work! Most drug users are to lethargic and out of touch with reality to sweep the roads. Legalising it would mean more drug related accidents, more admitted to St Anne's and more child neglect with more women abused because they are out of their minds. Drug users are a drain on society and are simply committing slow suicide at the expense of others.

Most drug users hold down a job, pax taxes and get on just fine as productive members of society.

Absolutely. Many people prefer to subscribe to the idea that drug users or 'druggies' are those on the lower socio economic scale. Those who you see frequenting areas of Boscombe and living in bedsits. Such is the level of ignorance demonstrated when it comes to anything drug related. Of course there are people like that who use drugs, but equally there are high functioning people of high calibre in professional careers who use recreational drugs, but they have the means to support their habit. If drugs were legalised and controlled it wouldn't solve ALL drug related problems, but it would solve many. Alcohol is legal after all.

I do not usually give personal details when commenting on articles bur I am a qualified Pharmacist (working in the wholesale pharmaceutical industry) so I do have a wealth of knowledge about 'drugs' (including illegal substances).

ok tell me how it would solve problems, and most problems are caused by the low life we see round Boscombe and other such areas. The way i see it if it was legalised recreational users could just get hold of it easier, but the low life would still need to steal to feed their habit. And what drugs would you legalise? all of them? because when people become hooked on drugs and want something stronger will you provide that as well, maybe something like Acetorphine which is used to tranqualise rhinos! Because the misuse of drugs is not solved by just legalising it, thats a very black & white way of looking at it. And yes alcohol is a drug to, and maybe one day that will be banned! but just because we already use one type of drug why should we allow another one to help hurt people

It wouldn't solve all the problems, but it would go some way into improving things. Of course people would still break the law to obtain drugs - as they do to obtain anything that they cannot get through legitimate means (i.e. robbery, mugging etc.) but it would cut the prices of drugs if they were legalised. Working in wholesale pharmaceuticals I KNOW the prices of drugs. If drugs were legalised tomorrow I'd open up a centre where people who want recreational drugs (i.e. cocaine) would come in, be weighed, have their blood pressure and heart rate monitored and the correct dose would then be administered. The prices would be considerably less than people pay on the street, AND the drugs would be 'pure' (as in lower toxicity) and less likely to cause serious problems. This is the way forward. The 'low life' as you call them, would be have 'low life' anyway, irrespective of drug use. There are always going to be under-achievers in any society.

Saint&Sinner wrote:
This wasn't Gazza was it ? Wished Id have know cause I would have taken him a fishing rod, tent and some cooked chicken ... lol

lol

EGHH wrote:
We live in the age of terrorism. The Police do not know what they will come up against so they need to have maximum impact. You should be grateful we don't live in Los Angeles where they use a police version of a military APC for their raids.

Typical American brain washed by the Media, Do you know this isn't a post about terrorism? and just so you know 2804 in the US have died from acts of terror during 2000 - 2006 while 1.2million die from round accidents every year. pfft.

lisa401 wrote:

tricky1007 wrote:

lisa401 wrote:

Horridbloke wrote:

High Treason wrote:

tricky1007 wrote:

lisa401 wrote:

ashleycross wrote: Fantastic news. Even if you don't live in Boscombe the implications of drugs crime affects us all. The number of burglaries and amount of prostitution needed to fund a drug habit is astronomical and no matter how careful you are locking up your house or car someone whose body will go into withdrawal if they don't get their drugs that day is going to be pretty determined to get in.

Yes, and that's why it should be legalised, licensed and controlled!

Yeah that would solve it cos when people had what they were entitled to they would just say fair enough no more for me! And the underground world of drug dealing would just go away, and the money required by people wanting drugs would be acquired by hard work not by stealing.... oh hold on!!!

Hard work! Most drug users are to lethargic and out of touch with reality to sweep the roads. Legalising it would mean more drug related accidents, more admitted to St Anne's and more child neglect with more women abused because they are out of their minds. Drug users are a drain on society and are simply committing slow suicide at the expense of others.

Most drug users hold down a job, pax taxes and get on just fine as productive members of society.

Absolutely. Many people prefer to subscribe to the idea that drug users or 'druggies' are those on the lower socio economic scale. Those who you see frequenting areas of Boscombe and living in bedsits. Such is the level of ignorance demonstrated when it comes to anything drug related. Of course there are people like that who use drugs, but equally there are high functioning people of high calibre in professional careers who use recreational drugs, but they have the means to support their habit. If drugs were legalised and controlled it wouldn't solve ALL drug related problems, but it would solve many. Alcohol is legal after all.

I do not usually give personal details when commenting on articles bur I am a qualified Pharmacist (working in the wholesale pharmaceutical industry) so I do have a wealth of knowledge about 'drugs' (including illegal substances).

ok tell me how it would solve problems, and most problems are caused by the low life we see round Boscombe and other such areas. The way i see it if it was legalised recreational users could just get hold of it easier, but the low life would still need to steal to feed their habit. And what drugs would you legalise? all of them? because when people become hooked on drugs and want something stronger will you provide that as well, maybe something like Acetorphine which is used to tranqualise rhinos! Because the misuse of drugs is not solved by just legalising it, thats a very black & white way of looking at it. And yes alcohol is a drug to, and maybe one day that will be banned! but just because we already use one type of drug why should we allow another one to help hurt people

It wouldn't solve all the problems, but it would go some way into improving things. Of course people would still break the law to obtain drugs - as they do to obtain anything that they cannot get through legitimate means (i.e. robbery, mugging etc.) but it would cut the prices of drugs if they were legalised. Working in wholesale pharmaceuticals I KNOW the prices of drugs. If drugs were legalised tomorrow I'd open up a centre where people who want recreational drugs (i.e. cocaine) would come in, be weighed, have their blood pressure and heart rate monitored and the correct dose would then be administered. The prices would be considerably less than people pay on the street, AND the drugs would be 'pure' (as in lower toxicity) and less likely to cause serious problems. This is the way forward. The 'low life' as you call them, would be have 'low life' anyway, irrespective of drug use. There are always going to be under-achievers in any society.

I so disagree. OK drug dealing etc and the criminality that goes with it would be hardest hit, but what about all the other effects of people using more and more drugs legally? First, the strain on the NHS dealing with the number of drug related illnesses including the mental health departments. Secondly, the strain on the police dealing with more and more drug related incidents e.g. drug-driving, where non-users could suffer. Thirdly as local issue, would not improve areas such as Boscombe at all which would still have just as many rehab centres and 'repeat offenders'. Fourthly, and possibly most worryingly, the affect more readily available drugs would have on users loved ones. Im thinking in particular the children of users who would undoubtedly suffer more and more from neglect, thus putting ridiculous demands on our childrens social services, more council tax money would need to be diverted from other projects to fund the influx of suffering childern and thus there would be little growth in our communities due to lack of funds.

Well torie supports and the general public who supported mutliple times to increase the prices on drink can share some of the blame on this increase, gateway drugs are now more appealing than every, they are cheaper than drink, even cocaine is cheaper than a night out in Bournemouth for a semi heavy user.

Whats funny is that police are never to be found in Boscombe, yet you go to Bournemouth on a night out and your be lucky if you don't see around 20 of them pinning one man down because they think hes drunk to much, good too see that people in this world have their priority right.

Also, You hardly ever see the police in big numbers compared to those in Bournemouth yet there is more serious crime in Boscombe, Seems police want the numbers of lesser crimes... All about meeting their targets these days..

Tom guy wrote:

EGHH wrote:
We live in the age of terrorism. The Police do not know what they will come up against so they need to have maximum impact. You should be grateful we don't live in Los Angeles where they use a police version of a military APC for their raids.

Typical American brain washed by the Media, Do you know this isn't a post about terrorism? and just so you know 2804 in the US have died from acts of terror during 2000 - 2006 while 1.2million die from round accidents every year. pfft.

Oh do get a life. You obviously live in a Dixon of Dock Green world. Ever worked or served in an area were terrorism was common place? I have it's called Northern Ireland! The guns were going to be used for crime or were they? It could have been an active terror cell planning an attack. The Police took the right action. Also every European Police force tactical units use "ski-masks" when on raids. And BTW I'm not American, another mistake by you!!!