Scrutiny panel accused of bias

Thursday 28th April 2005, 12:00AM BST.

THE scrutiny panel on substance misuse chaired by Deputy Jerry Dorey has been criticised by Health and Social Services and Home Affairs for failing to be impartial.

The panel had called for committees to examine the feasibility of setting up a supervised drug injecting centre in the Island, as well as a needle-exchange scheme at La Moye Prison.

In their response, the committees said it would be inappropriate to introduce a supervised injecting centre at this time.

They also said that a review of the likely effects of a needle-exchange scheme at La Moye Prison carried out by prison drugs counsellor Teresa Rodrigues had concluded that it might encourage increased drug use.

Both committees have said they found some of the panel’s recommendations did not always reflect an impartial assessment of the evidence and the panel departed radically from its defined remit.

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