Former ‘Drugs Tsar’ to deliver City Hall seminar

Keith Hellawell, the former UK government ‘drugs tsar’ will be the keynote speaker at a forthcoming seminar about the impact changes in the legislation relating to drugs classification at Belfast City Hall.

Mr Hellawell famously resigned his position in June 2002, in protest at the government’s stance on changes in drugs legislation.

His keynote address is expected to draw on his own experiences of working in government to provide a unique insight into the current debate about drugs, their legal status and how changes in legislation may impact on the fight against drugs misuse in Belfast.

Another guest speakers will be Tomas Halberg, an internationally renowned anti-drugs campaigner and Director of the influential lobby group, European Cities Against Drugs (ECAD), which operates a ‘zero tolerance’ policy in relation to the dilution of drugs legislation.

A number of other speakers who work within the drugs field in Belfast have also been invited to outline the problem as it exists and highlight the measures needed to be taken to address the situation properly.

The event will also include an open session during which agencies working to tackle the drugs problem in Belfast will be on hand to advise schoolchildren and members of the public who may have concerns in relation to substance abuse issues.

Councillor Eric Smyth, the Chairman of Belfast City Council’s All Party Working Group on Drugs Misuse, said: "This is a prime example of the Council showing civic leadership by holding this event and enabling this important issue to be debated in the City Hall for the benefit of the entire community."

Organised by Belfast City Council, the Drugs Information Seminar and Open Day will take place on March 4 and anyone interested in attending should contact Belfast City Council on: 028 90 270553.

Belfast is one of 260 member cities of ECAD and has two seats on its powerful Advisory Board, which will also be meeting in Belfast at the beginning of March.

The 15 board members – health professional and political representatives from a wide range of countries throughout Europe – will attend the March 4 seminar, prior to their own meeting at the City Hall the following day.

(KMcA)