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Select Committee · Home Affairs Committee

Drugs

Status: Closed Opened: 10 Feb 2022 Closed: 1 Feb 2024 38 recommendations 33 conclusions 1 report

The focus of the inquiry is on illegal drug use and its effects on society and the economy. The inquiry considers the UK’s legislative framework on drugs and UK drug policy. The framework refers to, for example: the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016; and, where relevant, any subordinate legislation made … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Drugs HC 198 31 Aug 2023 71 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

7 items
7 Recommendation Third Report - Drugs Deferred

Urgently move psychedelic drugs to Schedule 2 to facilitate medical research.

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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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Home Office
9 Conclusion Third Report - Drugs Deferred

Increasing benzodiazepine use and its link to drug deaths causes concern.

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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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Home Office
30 Conclusion Third Report - Drugs Deferred

Concerns raised about new drug possession sanctions' impact on stigma and young people.

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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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Home Office
31 Conclusion Third Report - Drugs Deferred

Explain identification of drug-dependent individuals, youth impact, and costs for new sanctions policy.

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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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Home Office
36 Recommendation Third Report - Drugs Deferred

Adopt a statutory definition of Child Criminal Exploitation to ensure consistent application.

We recommend that the Government consider adopting a statutory definition on Child Criminal Exploitation.

Government response AI summary
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.
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Home Office
61 Recommendation Third Report - Drugs Deferred

Mandate all police forces to establish standardised diversion schemes for low-level drug offences.

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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 an evidence base for future …
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Home Office
64 Recommendation Third Report - Drugs Deferred

Establish trauma-informed policing training and guidance for all police forces in England and Wales.

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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 responsible for setting standards and …
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Home Office

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
22 Feb 2023 Angela Constance · Scottish Government, Caroline Hart · Home Office, Marcus Starling · Home Office, Rt Hon Chris Philp MP · Home Office View ↗
29 Jun 2022 Charlie Doyle · British Transport Police, Dr Jack Spicer · University of the West of England, Dr Richard Lewis · National Police Chiefs’ Council and Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police, Junior Smart OBE · St Giles Trust, Nicky Hill · Abianda, Steve Rodhouse · National Crime Agency View ↗
15 Jun 2022 Andy Dunbobbin · Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, David Sidwick, David Thorne · South Wales Police, John Campbell QPM · Thames Valley Police, Serena Kennedy · Merseyside Police, Zoe Metcalfe View ↗
25 May 2022 Councillor Joanne Harding · Local Government Association, Maggie Boreham · Hackney Council, Professor Dame Carol Black · Combating Drugs, Professor Jim McManus · Hertfordshire County Council View ↗
18 May 2022 Dr Emily Finch · Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, Dr Owen Bowden-Jones · Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, Professor David Nutt · Imperial College, London, Professor Jo Neill · Manchester University, Professor Ornella Corazza · Hertfordshire University, Professor Roger Knaggs · Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, Professor Stuart Reece · University of Western Australia View ↗
27 Apr 2022 Chloe Hartnell · Hodge Jones and Allen LLP, Dr Karenza Moore · Newcastle University, Dr Kojo Koram · Birkbeck College, University of London, Martin Powell · Transform Drug Policy Foundation, Niamh Eastwood · Release, Rudi Fortson QC · 25 Bedford Row Chambers View ↗

Who gave evidence

33 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Andy Dunbobbin Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales 1
Angela Constance · Minister for Drugs Policy Scottish Government 1
Caroline Hart · Deputy Director for Drugs Supply and County Lines Home Office 1
Charlie Doyle · Assistant Chief Constable British Transport Police 1
Chloe Hartnell · Partner Hodge Jones and Allen LLP 1
Councillor Joanne Harding · Councillor Local Government Association 1
David Sidwick — 1
David Thorne · Assistant Chief Constable South Wales Police 1
Dr Emily Finch · Co-chair of the Recovery Committee Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs 1
Dr Jack Spicer · Lecturer in Criminology University of the West of England 1
Dr Karenza Moore · Lecturer in Sociology of Crime Newcastle University 1
Dr Kojo Koram · Lecturer, School of Law Birkbeck College, University of London 1
Dr Owen Bowden-Jones · Chair Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs 1
Dr Richard Lewis · Drugs lead National Police Chiefs’ Council and Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police 1
John Campbell QPM · Chief Constable Thames Valley Police 1
Junior Smart OBE · SOS Project Founder St Giles Trust 1
Maggie Boreham · City and Hackney Public Health Team Hackney Council 1
Marcus Starling · Deputy Director of the Drug Misuse Unit, Crime Re… Home Office 1
Martin Powell · Head of Partnerships Transform Drug Policy Foundation 1
Niamh Eastwood · Executive Director Release 1
Nicky Hill · Head of Services Abianda 1
Professor Dame Carol Black Combating Drugs 1
Professor David Nutt · Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology Imperial College, London 1
Professor Jim McManus · Executive Director, Public Health Hertfordshire County Council 1
Professor Jo Neill · Professor of Psychopharmacology, Manchester Pharm… Manchester University 1
Professor Ornella Corazza · Professor of Addiction Science Hertfordshire University 1
Professor Roger Knaggs · Chair of the Technical Committee Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs 1
Professor Stuart Reece · Associate Professor of Medicine University of Western Australia 1
Rt Hon Chris Philp MP · Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire Home Office 1
Rudi Fortson QC · Barrister 25 Bedford Row Chambers 1
Serena Kennedy · Chief Constable Merseyside Police 1
Steve Rodhouse · Director General (Threats) National Crime Agency 1
Zoe Metcalfe — 1

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
23 Nov 2022 To cttee Letter from Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire on the Middlesbrough DAT prog…
2 Nov 2022 To cttee Letter from Public Health, Middlesbrough Council on closure of the Middlesbroug…
27 Oct 2022 From cttee Letter to the Minister for Policing and Crime on closure of Middlesbrough Diamo…
27 Oct 2022 From cttee Letter to Project ADDER on closure of Middlesbrough diamorphine assisted treatm…