Britain is losing war on drugs on an industrial scale, amid a 'conspiracy of silence' over policy failings, says Nick Clegg

Mr Clegg insisted he is not in favour of full legalisation of drugs but thinks targeting dealers and traffickers, while decriminalising possession, might be a solution

The deputy prime minister also committed the Liberal Democrats to a major review of drugs policy in the 2015 election manifesto, and urged David Cameron to look at issues such as decriminalisation or legalisation. (AP)

Britain is losing the war on drugs on an industrial scale, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said today as he called for a reform of drugs laws.

The deputy prime minister also committed the Liberal Democrats to a major review of drugs policy in the 2015 election manifesto, and urged David Cameron to look at issues such as decriminalisation or legalisation.

In an interview with the Sun, Mr Clegg said: "If you were waging any other war where you have 2,000 fatalities a year, your enemies are making billions in profit, constantly throwing new weapons at you and targeting more young people, you'd have to say you are losing and it's time to do something different.

"I'm anti-drugs - it's for that reason I'm pro-reform."

Mr Clegg insisted he is not in favour of full legalisation of drugs but thinks targeting dealers and traffickers, while decriminalising possession, might be a solution.

The Commons Home Affairs Committee found the Government's drugs policies to be failing in a report published on Monday, and recommended a royal commission to look at alternatives.

Mr Clegg told the Sun he will include a "clear commitment" to a royal commission on drugs in his party's 2015 manifesto.

He added: "I told the Prime minister that this was a missed opportunity. He knows my views on this. He and I don't agree on this."

The Lib Dem leader said he has ordered Home Office minister Jeremy Browne to compile a report on liberal approaches to drugs across the world which have worked, including in Portugal, Amsterdam, Latin America and several US states.