Recommendation 18

The Minister has stated that the UK Government will consider the evidence emerging from the pilot. However, it was clear from the Minister’s evidence that the Home Office will not make legislative changes, even if the evaluation finds that the facility has been effective in meeting its aims. The UK Government should not approach the evaluation having already made up its mind about the future of The Thistle. The UK Government should seriously consider the evaluation and, if the outcomes are positive, should consider the merits of SDCFs alongside consideration of other interventions to tackle problem drug use. (Conclusion, Paragraph 135)