Recommendations & Conclusions
3 items
10
Conclusion
Eleventh Report - Reducing the harm fro…
Acknowledged
There have been signs of progress in some areas.24 For example, local areas have recruited an extra 1,220 drug workers, exceeding the 3-year target already.25 In terms of disrupting the supply of drugs, over 2,000 county lines have been closed (exceeding the initial three-year target) and there have been 4,800 …
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There have been signs of progress in some areas.24 For example, local areas have recruited an extra 1,220 drug workers, exceeding the 3-year target already.25 In terms of disrupting the supply of drugs, over 2,000 county lines have been closed (exceeding the initial three-year target) and there have been 4,800 disruptions of criminal gangs (against a target of 8,800 by 2025).26 We also heard from Mr Lay and Ms Millar that the police are increasingly seeking to divert people to treatment or a drug awareness course, instead of a prosecution for drugs possession.27 The Home Office told us that the police had conducted 50,000 drug tests at the point of arrest.28
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledged the committee's observation on progress and provided further specific achievements, including increasing treatment places, closing county lines, improving prison leaver treatment, and expanding drug testing on arrest.
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HM Treasury
14
Conclusion
Eleventh Report - Reducing the harm fro…
Acknowledged
While the strategy has a 10-year timescale to achieve its intended outcomes, its funding allocations are restricted to government Spending Review periods, typically for two to four years.42 When asked about how they could provide greater assurance to local bodies on longer-term funding, departments told us they were unable to …
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While the strategy has a 10-year timescale to achieve its intended outcomes, its funding allocations are restricted to government Spending Review periods, typically for two to four years.42 When asked about how they could provide greater assurance to local bodies on longer-term funding, departments told us they were unable to do this because “that is not how spending reviews work” and that the existence of a 10-year strategy “was the best reassurance that we can give”.43 Ms Wiseman told us that the lack of longer-term certainty posed risks for local authorities and implementing bodies, especially in their ability to plan for the long-term and recruit the best people. When they are only able to 33 Qq 55, 58 34 Q 4; C&AG’s Report para 2.12 35 Q 23 36 Qq 15,31 37 Q 124 38 C&AG’s Report paras 13, 2.10 39 Qq 33, 88 40 Qq 32–35 41 Committee of Public Accounts, Alcohol treatment services, Fifty-Fourth Report of Session 2022–23, 24 May 2023, para 13 42 Background to the 2020 Spending Review – House of Commons Library (parliament.uk) 43 Qq 87, 93 12 Reducing the harm from illegal drugs offer 12-month contracts, it is difficult to recruit and train staff to work with the most vulnerable people in society, and there is a need to offer contracts beyond 2025 to enable people to develop careers in the sector.44
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concerns about long-term funding, explaining that spending reviews dictate allocations and that work is ongoing to develop a strong case for investment beyond March 2025.
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HM Treasury
19
Conclusion
Eleventh Report - Reducing the harm fro…
Acknowledged
We have previously highlighted the importance of effective performance metrics as a means of assessing progress in implementation.60 The JCDU has developed the National Outcomes Framework as a basis for assessing progress towards outcomes of reduced 48 C&AG’s Report, para 9 49 Q 3 50 Q 59; C&AG’s Report, Figure …
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We have previously highlighted the importance of effective performance metrics as a means of assessing progress in implementation.60 The JCDU has developed the National Outcomes Framework as a basis for assessing progress towards outcomes of reduced 48 C&AG’s Report, para 9 49 Q 3 50 Q 59; C&AG’s Report, Figure 8 51 Qq 57, 58 52 Q 57; C&AG’s Report, para 2.10 53 Q 18 54 C&AG’s Report para 1.6 55 Ev RHD0005 56 Qq 73, 101, 115, 136 57 Q 3 58 Q 80 59 Q 101 60 Committee of Public Accounts, Improving outcomes for women in the criminal justice system, Fifty-First Report of Session 2021–22, 28 April 2022, para 6 14 Reducing the harm from illegal drugs drug use, drug-related deaths and crime.61 However, Mr Trace expressed concerns that performance measures created an obsession with the numbers and did not focus on the outcomes being sought.62 After the session, Mr Trace provided supplementary evidence that local authorities are incentivised to offer a minimal level of service to a maximum number of people, rather than measuring the numbers of people they have helped to recover from their addiction.63 He argued that the current framework creates perverse incentives and risks micromanagement at the local level.64 When challenged, DHSC told us that process indicators are necessary for long-term conditions as they help focus on what is needed to improve services, such as the workforce and numbers of people in treatment.65 Mr Trace also stated that measures of enforcement activity were still too focused on process rather than outcomes, and that that law enforcement bodies should prioritise outcomes, such as reducing the availability of drugs and lowering drug-related violence.66 Targeting treatment and recovery services
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledged concerns about performance metrics by stating ongoing evaluations and tracking of outcomes within the National Combating Drugs Outcomes Framework will increase understanding of progress and inform potential adjustments to their approach.
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HM Treasury