Drugs

Home Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 10 Feb 2022 Closed: 1 Feb 2024 Parliament page
The focus of the inquiry is on illegal drug use and its effects on society and the economy. The inquiry considers the UK’s legislative framework on drugs and UK drug policy. The framework refers to, for example: the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016; and, where … Read more
38 Recommendations
33 Conclusions
1 Report
6 Oral sessions
4 Letters
6 Events
Activity timeline 18 events
14 Nov
2023
Report published
31 Aug
2023
Report published
22 Feb
2023
Oral evidence
22 Feb
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
23 Nov
2022
Correspondence
2 Nov
2022
Correspondence
27 Oct
2022
Correspondence
27 Oct
2022
Correspondence
29 Jun
2022
Oral evidence
29 Jun
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
15 Jun
2022
Oral evidence
15 Jun
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
22 Feb 2023
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Angela Constance · Scottish Government Caroline Hart · Home Office Marcus Starling · Home Office Rt Hon Chris Philp MP · Home Office
29 Jun 2022
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Charlie Doyle · British Transport Police Dr Jack Spicer · University of the West of England Dr Richard Lewis · National Police Chiefs’ Council and Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police Junior Smart OBE · St Giles Trust Nicky Hill · Abianda Steve Rodhouse · National Crime Agency
15 Jun 2022
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Andy Dunbobbin · Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales David Sidwick David Thorne · South Wales Police John Campbell QPM · Thames Valley Police Serena Kennedy · Merseyside Police Zoe Metcalfe
25 May 2022
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Councillor Joanne Harding · Local Government Association Maggie Boreham · Hackney Council Professor Dame Carol Black · Combating Drugs Professor Jim McManus · Hertfordshire County Council
18 May 2022
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Dr Emily Finch · Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs Dr Owen Bowden-Jones · Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs Professor David Nutt · Imperial College, London Professor Jo Neill · Manchester University Professor Ornella Corazza · Hertfordshire University Professor Roger Knaggs · Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs Professor Stuart Reece · University of Western Australia
27 Apr 2022
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Chloe Hartnell · Hodge Jones and Allen LLP Dr Karenza Moore · Newcastle University Dr Kojo Koram · Birkbeck College, University of London Martin Powell · Transform Drug Policy Foundation Niamh Eastwood · Release Rudi Fortson QC · 25 Bedford Row Chambers
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Drugs HC 198 31 Aug 2023 71 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
Clear
7 Recommendation Deferred
Third Report - Drugs
Urgently move psychedelic drugs to Schedule 2 to facilitate medical research.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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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9 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - Drugs
Increasing benzodiazepine use and its link to drug deaths causes concern.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Home Office
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30 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - Drugs
Concerns raised about new drug possession sanctions' impact on stigma and young people.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Home Office
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31 Conclusion Deferred
Third Report - Drugs
Explain identification of drug-dependent individuals, youth impact, and costs for new sanctions policy.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Home Office
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36 Recommendation Deferred
Third Report - Drugs
Adopt a statutory definition of Child Criminal Exploitation to ensure consistent application.
We recommend that the Government consider adopting a statutory definition on Child Criminal Exploitation.
Government Response
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 Recommendation Deferred
Third Report - Drugs
Mandate all police forces to establish standardised diversion schemes for low-level drug offences.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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 Recommendation Deferred
Third Report - Drugs
Establish trauma-informed policing training and guidance for all police forces in England and Wales.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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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Government Response AI assessment · 71 of 38 classified
Accepted 22
Accepted in Part 14
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 7
Not Addressed 3
Rejected 17
Total 38 recs + 33 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
23 Nov 2022 To committee Letter from Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire on the Middlesbrough DAT programme, dated 11 November 2022
Parliament page
2 Nov 2022 To committee Letter from Public Health, Middlesbrough Council on closure of the Middlesbrough Diamorphine-Assisted Treatment programme, dated 31 October 2022
Parliament page
27 Oct 2022 From committee Letter to the Minister for Policing and Crime on closure of Middlesbrough Diamorphine-Assisted Treatment programme, dated 27 October 2022
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27 Oct 2022 From committee Letter to Project ADDER on closure of Middlesbrough diamorphine assisted treatment programme, dated 27 October 2022
Parliament page