Recommendations & Conclusions
7 items
7
Recommendation
Third Report - Drugs
Deferred
We welcome the UK Government’s commitment to reducing barriers to researching psychedelic drugs under Schedule 1 to the 2001 Regulations. Pending the outcomes of the ACMD’s ongoing review of Schedule 1 controlled drugs, we recommend the UK Government urgently moves psychedelic drugs to Schedule 2 in order to facilitate research …
Government response. The government defers action on moving psychedelic drugs to Schedule 2, awaiting the ACMD's advice from an ongoing Part 2 review that will consider extending Schedule 2 status for research purposes to all Schedule 1 drugs.
Home Office
9
Conclusion
Third Report - Drugs
Deferred
We are concerned about the increasing prevalence of benzodiazepine use, and its implication in drug misuse deaths, across the UK. We await the outcome of the Home Office’s consultation on the creation of a new offence to better enable law enforcement to prove the illicit use of pill presses. (Paragraph …
Government response. The government shares the committee's concerns, notes steps already taken to control benzodiazepines, and commits to providing an update on the pill press consultation outcome by 18 December 2023.
Home Office
30
Conclusion
Third Report - Drugs
Deferred
We welcome the Government’s ambition to reduce demand for drugs including recreational drugs. However, we have heard concerns that the three-tiered framework of escalating sanctions under the Swift, Certain, Tough: New Consequences for Drug Possession White Paper may have a negative impact in, for example, perpetuating stigma and in relation …
Government response. The government acknowledges concerns about the White Paper's impact, stating they are currently analysing over 2,000 consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
Home Office
31
Conclusion
Third Report - Drugs
Deferred
Though we await the outcome of the consultation on this White Paper, we ask that the Home Office further explain: (Paragraph 113) a) How people with a drug dependency—to whom this policy will not apply—will be identified and directed into treatment. b) The extent to which the policy is likely …
Government response. The government acknowledges the committee's concerns but defers providing the requested explanations, stating they are analysing consultation responses to the White Paper and will publish a formal response in due course.
Home Office
36
Recommendation
Third Report - Drugs
Deferred
We recommend that the Government consider adopting a statutory definition on Child Criminal Exploitation.
Government response. The government states it accepts the recommendations and will consider adopting a statutory definition on Child Criminal Exploitation as part of ongoing work, including reviewing findings from the Modern Slavery Act 2015 consultation.
Home Office
61
Recommendation
Third Report - Drugs
Deferred
We recommend that the Home Office place a duty on all 43 police forces in England and Wales to establish diversion schemes in their force area for young people and adults who have committed low-level offences. The duty must outline requirements for the diversion schemes in order to ensure a …
Government response. The government notes existing Out of Court Disposal (OOCD) pathways and plans to roll out pilots to expand OOCD use for drug possession offences in a small number of forces. This work aims to establish a national picture and provide …
Home Office
64
Recommendation
Third Report - Drugs
Deferred
We recommend that trauma-informed training and practices be expanded to all 43 police forces in England and Wales. The Home Office must work with police forces and stakeholders to establish training and guidance on trauma-informed policing. The training and guidance should take into consideration the types of trauma associated with …
Government response. The government states that further pilots, research, and evaluation are needed before trauma-informed practices can be scaled up significantly across all police forces due to limited evidence. The Home Office has shared insights with the College of Policing, which is …
Home Office