I don't think there's any disagreement between me and qwertyplop in principle. The point is that GA needs to be vigilant and avoid the possibility of being exploited by the baddies.
For most of us the prospect of loss of licence and/or aeroplane is enough deterrent apart from any moral considerations to ensure we keep out of illicit activities. We have seen the occasional bad egg caught drug running and/or people carrying because the relationship between authority and GA is pretty good.
My point is that continued vigilance and co-operation with the authorities in supporting their need for intelligence is by far the most efficient route to dealing with the baddies. Most people in the security services would share this view I think, because they understand that the community has to be their eyes and ears if they are to be successful, simply because they can't be everywhere.
The problem comes from inexperienced ministers and (sadly these days) inexperienced Chief Constables who have a desperate urge to be seen to be doing something, but no idea of what works and what doesn't.