The Netherlands' liberal policy on drugs is having a "disastrous" effect on Britain

The Netherlands' liberal policy on drugs is having a "disastrous" effect on Britain by encouraging large scale trafficking of substances such as ecstasy and amphetamines, Tom Sackville, the Home Office minister, told a conference of police chiefs yesterday. In a sharply worded speech, Mr Sackville said the Netherlands was now the source of 90 per cent of all Ecstasy and amphetamines seized in Britain and called on the Dutch government to become involved in greater co-operation.

"The open sale of cannabis in `coffee shops' is, in the view of this Government, highly damaging to our interests," he said. But West Yorkshire Chief Constable Keith Hellawell, who is chairing the conference, added: "Even the Dutch take a very strong line against dealers and traffickers."Jason Bennetto