Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Acknowledged
Progress observed in drug worker recruitment, county lines disruption, and police diversion tactics.
Conclusion
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
Government Response 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.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
1.2 There has been significant progress in delivering the Drug Strategy since the start of additional funding in April 2022. As of November 2023, the government’s key achievements include: • increasing the number of quality treatment places by nearly 19,000, with treatment places for young people increasing by 16%; • delivering the closure of 2,100 exploitative county lines, meeting the 3-year target in 18 months; • improving continuity of treatment for prison leavers to record levels of 51.8%. • expanding drug testing on arrest, with 38 forces accepting funding in 2023-24 meaning double the number of forces reporting its use; • increasing the number of prisons with Incentivised Substance-Free Living units to 68; and • improving the recovery offer including expanding the Individual Placement and Support Programme on employment to cover 52% of all local authorities.