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You back MP's call for drugs debate
From the Bolton Evening News, first published Friday 15th Aug 1997.
SHOCKED townsfolk have given the thumbs up to a Bolton MP's call for a debate into the drugs problem.
Bolton South East MP Brian Iddon is demanding that a Royal Commission should be set up to look into the national problem in the wake of the killing of five-year-old Dillon Hull.
A Bolton Evening News team took to the streets to get feedback from residents about Dr Iddon's proposals. SYLVIA Dougill, 56, of Station Road, Blackrod, said: "Any debate on the problem has got to be a good thing.
"You'll never get rid of the drugs problem but something needs to be done when young children are being killed." MOTHER-of-two Susan Pasquill, of Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge, urged residents to set up special "drug watches".
She said: "It's not just people in positions of power who should do something about the problem - ordinary people should fight as well.
"People should create drug watches in their streets with the help of the authorities to warn off any dealers." HOSPITAL worker Carol Jones, aged 24, warned of the dangers of drugs after seeing the effects they had on addicts.
"I think we should get rid of drugs entirely. I've seen the destruction and wasted lives that drugs have caused," she said.
"It's unbelievable to think there's such a big drugs problem in Bolton but if a Royal Commission can help it's got to be good." THELMA Bradburn, who lives in Worsley, urged any Commission to find out why people take drugs and where they get the money for them. PETER Smith, aged 62, of Longworth Road, Horwich, described the town's drug problem as "terrible".
"It's a very hard problem to solve but if a Royal Commission can help then it should be tried." OLD soldier Colonel Cecil Robinson, aged 79, of Firwood Fold, urged any Commission to take firm action.
He said: "It sounds savage but I think that any addicts should be put through cold turkey.
"It's horrendous when a little boy is dead. I don't want to see a soft approach, I want real action." NANCY Morris, of Pennington Mews, Leigh, said: "If a debate into drugs would get results then it must be good. People who take drugs for a kick need to be kicked themselves. We must all do something to stop the drug problem." HER husband, Henry Morris, aged 78, wants to see an increased police force to tackle the problem.
"The more it's brought to the awareness of the community the more we will be able to do about the problem," he said. ODILE Holden, aged 65, of Devonshire Road, Heaton, called for greater punishments for drug dealers.
She said: "Youngsters don't seem to realise how dangerous drugs are. Any Commission that is set up needs to educate children and get that danger across."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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