WRITTEN ON March 21st, 2006 BY William Heath AND STORED IN Uncategorized

My PWOD* friend Dave finally got released about the same time my baby daughter was born last week. They arrive simultaneously into what he calls that Category E facility HMP United Kingdon.

I’m really pleased to think that the wretched demands of civil service paperwork weren’t responsible for the timing of baby’s arrival, as in my case. The probation and the prison service joined forces to sing a final dirge at mine and the tax-payers’ expense and kept me guessing for two weeks when, exactly, I would actually be getting out. Meanwhile I’d already started paying rent, lined up work etc Apparently they only waste £9m each year alone on late paperwork getting people out of prison and on tag. Makes you wonder why they can’t spend half that recruiting some efficient staff that can get work done on time…they only had 18 months to sort it out. Ayway, the good news is I have been demoted to the sandard of semi-dangerous criminal and am to be fitted with a technological ball and chain…

Well, the grey prison food and lack of daylight hasn’t entirely spoiled David’s mind. He has been quiet, co-operative and exemplary inside, leading yoga classes and working towards his PhD.

But it’s far from ideal that he was there in the first place? What’s the Wibbi in the face of the horribly damaging war on drugs?

Hamish McCrae observed recently that politicians, unlike businessmen, persevere with policies even when it’s clear they failing. The PM’s strategy unit did an excellent analysis of the problems and solution, but it was never released. I never understood why.

For the best analysis of the harm done by the war on drugs and why controlled regulation is the rational option see Transform and their excellent report After the War on Drugs: Options for Control.

Also I like LEAP, the US law-enforcement officers who have come to think the same way. *Prisoner in the War on Drugs