Recommendation 45

HM Government Rejected

The Government does not accept these recommendations. The Government has no plans to introduce a national drug checking service. Such services provide an implicit approval of illicit drug use, which is not in line with the Government’s zero-tolerance approach to illegal drugs. The Government has a clear commitment to tackling illicit drug use through its 10-year Drug Strategy, From Harm to Hope. In addition to treatment and recovery, the strategy provides for a robust law enforcement response to the illicit production and supply of drugs. Providing drug checking facilities would detract from the Government’s primary objective of reducing drug use and drug related harm. We continue to increase drug seizures at the border, invest in the National Crime Agency to increase disruption of supply chains before they reach the UK, dismantle County Lines drug trafficking networks and target the operations of the key organised criminal groups involved in drug supply. We are also expanding the use of drug testing on arrest across police forces to target recreational drug users. We are also piloting out of court disposals as one of the suite of tools the police have to address drug misuse. We continue to engage with a range of stakeholders to understand the impact of various interventions on drug use and drug-related harms. This includes academic institutions, research organisations, law enforcement agencies, and other government bodies. Through this engagement, the Government gathers insights into best practices and emerging evidence in drug policy. The Government will continue to assess the evidence and impact of drug checking services, and consider whether new approaches could further support its strategic priorities. In line with the ACMD report, Novel psychoactive substances (NPS), (2014) and The Public Health Outcomes Framework, which has a specific indicator for drug misuse deaths, the Government acknowledges that the presence of different psychoactive substances in the illicit drug market can contribute to drug-related deaths. The Government’s existing Forensic Early Warning System (FEWS) provides a mechanism to rapidly detect and identify new psychoactive substances and their analogues and to disseminate alerts to health, social care and law enforcement professionals. OHID and the UK Health Security Agency also coordinate the national alerting system that provides timely warnings to health professionals and others about new drugs of concern and their associated risks. It is important to note that the Government will not allow any organisation to act with impunity outside of the existing legal framework.