Ireland: Police back proposal decriminalising possession of heroin, cocaine and cannabis

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin proposed a 'massive cultural shift' in moving towards decriminalising possession of small quantities of certain narcotics

The latest offence took place at a Tesco store in the Rathmines area of the city on 8 July (Getty)

Police officers in Ireland have backed a proposal to decriminalise the possession of heroin, cocaine and cannabis for personal use no longer.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, chief of Ireland’s National Drugs Strategy, said Ireland will move towards decriminalising possession of small quantities of certain narcotics as part of a "radical cultural shift".

He argued attitudes to drugs must move away from shaming users and instead focus on helping them.

However, he said there was a difference between decriminalisation and legislation. It would remain a crime to profit from either the sale or distribution of drugs.

The Garda Representative Association, representing 11,5000 frontline officers, has welcomed the move, saying it would free up police resources.

“I think anything that can deal with the curse of drugs and some innovating thinking on this is to be welcomed,” PJ Stone, the GRA’s general secretary, told The Guardian.

He added that instead of targeting drug users, Garda and state resources should be directed against the "big guys" who make millions from the misery of drug use.

Mr Ó Ríordáin’s initiative represents a major break with the states decades-long policy of criminalising heroin and other drug users.

The minister also said drug users will be able to inject in specially designed rooms in Dublin from next year.

He said they would be "clinically controlled environments" which would aim to prevent already vulnerable individuals from exposing themselves to further risk.

He added: “Research has shown that the use of supervised injecting centres is associated with self-reported reductions in injecting risk behaviours.”