Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Third Report - Drugs
Home Affairs Committee
HC 198
Published 31 August 2023
Recommendations
7
Deferred
Para 30
Urgently move psychedelic drugs to Schedule 2 to facilitate medical research.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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.
Home Office
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36
Deferred
Para 127
Adopt a statutory definition of Child Criminal Exploitation to ensure consistent application.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government consider adopting a statutory definition on Child Criminal Exploitation.
Government Response 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.
Home Office
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61
Deferred
Para 219
Mandate all police forces to establish standardised diversion schemes for low-level drug offences.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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 policy approaches, rather than immediately placing a duty on all forces.
Home Office
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64
Deferred
Establish trauma-informed policing training and guidance for all police forces in England and Wales.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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 providing training for police forces.
Home Office
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Conclusions (3)
9
Conclusion
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 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.
30
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 112
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 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.
31
Conclusion
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 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.