The drug reform will not increase drug abuse and drug-related crime, according to Acting Police Commissioner Ray Zammit.
Asked to react to the government’s proposals to decriminalise simple drug possession, Mr Zammit told Times of Malta he did not think the review would lead to more youths using drugs.
Cabinet is discussing proposals drafted by Justice Minister Owen Bonnici who last month told this newspaper he was planning to “gatecrash” Parliament with the reform when it opened after the summer recess on Monday.
The review is proposing that first-time offenders found in simple possession should receive an administrative fine similar to that given for smoking indoors. Repeat offenders will appear before a special board that would set conditions such as community service or, if need be, rehabilitation.
Cannabis will enjoy special treatment, with users only facing the board in extraordinary circumstances.
Mr Zammit said he agreed with the reform’s direction and did not believe users should be arrested for simple possession. Asked if the current practice of bringing in anyone found with even minuscule amounts of drugs was a waste of police resources, Mr Zammit would only say this was one of the force’s main streams of drug information.
“Users are a main source of grassroots information for us and are extremely useful in building up cases,” he said.
Losing this would be a “death sentence” for the island’s counter-trafficking efforts.
Mr Zammit said he hoped the police would retain the information-gathering network, even though users would not be arrested.
“We would still have to keep in touch with users and talk to them, otherwise we’ll be in trouble. We’ll have to change the way we do this,” he said.
The reform is expected to be introduced by December at the latest and Mr Zammit said the initial cases would be a major learning curve for the police force.
“When the first few incidents occur, it’s going to be a shock to the system. Things have been one way for so long. This is true of both the police and the courts.
“Both will take time to adapt,” he said, adding that the force was open to change.