Tackling Complexity – Illegal Drugs And What’s Needed For A Better Future
We know in the UK that the issue of illegal drugs is a significant problem, if not the most significant for society. We see the harm to individuals and the harm to communities. The issue is that we try and reduce complexity to simple solutions. We need to actually deliver three things – tough enforcement, effective treatment and impactful prevention.
We are changing the paradigm in the South West.
Tough Enforcement
Uniquely and for the first time, the five Police and Crime Commissioners in the South West decided to have a joint priority to create a hostile environment for illegal drugs. Our message is clear; drug gangs and those intent on bringing illegal drugs to the South West will be targeted and removed. The police will find you; they will follow you and they won’t stop until they’ve got you. We are united in our mission to drive drugs out of our communities.
To do this we asked our forces to create Operation Scorpion. This is where they focus resource on a particular issue and always put in place a “Ring of Steel” .This is where all assets are used to patrol transport routes to keep drugs out. Partnership with British Transport Police, Crimestoppers and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit pays dividends. Particular issues addressed have been County Lines, Drugs in the Night Time Economy, Cannabis Farms and in the most recent phase, by utilizing community intelligence, we have been able to take the fight to Street Dealing.
This is recognized as a unique approach and Operation Scorpion has been executed 7 times. This has resulted in over 3200 disruptions (the highest for any region in the country) with over 600 arrests, over 900 vulnerable people safeguarded and over £1.5million pounds of drugs taken off the streets from this one operation alone.
Individually we have our own additional drug operations which also are making a difference. In Dorset we have utilized some of the additional officers to create Neighbourhood Enforcement Teams. We created Operation Viper to tackle County Lines and this has made over 200 arrests and closed 45% of the County Lines in Dorset.
Effective Treatment
As part of the government’s 10 year drug strategy : From Harm To Hope each area has a Combatting Drug Partnership (CDP) – in many cases chaired by a PCC. This brings together the all possible stakeholders driving forward to tackle the issue of illegal drugs. As part of FH2H, there has been more funding for treatment to increase the numbers of those treated and critically to improve the continuity of care for those leaving prison. There is also a potential game-changing new opioid substitute which breaks the cycle of addiction by freeing space to allow the addressing of other lifestyle issues such as accommodation and employment. A focus on treatment and recovery rather than just harm reduction or worse facilitation will make a real difference - so long as this approach is consistently funded.
Impactful Prevention
This is the orphan at the feast receiving no funding. If we are going to cut generational demand for drugs we need to invest in preventing their use. That needs money and it needs a philosophical change. Prevention needs to address the issue of adverse childhood experiences building resilience but it also needs to give young people the facts about the harm of illegal gateway drugs. Cannabis, possibly ketamine, MDMA and nitrous oxide are all carriages on the addiction train. For years there has been a trend to suggest that it’s ok, it’s just a bit of weed - that ignores the harm to the person. We need to highlight the psychosis, the cancer and the birth defects from this genotoxin. And for young people, the fact it can age you significantly. Decriminalisation or worse legalization is failing across the world and there is a better way - if we get prevention right.
But expecting the police to perform this function is not enough – they don’t have the resources or expertise to deliver a multi-channel age-specific programme with different communication mechanisms. They deliver “Drugs and the law” through the Safer Schools Team which will appeal to a certain demographic. In Dorset we also have the Wasps Nest by Vita Nova – a dramatic arts presentation of County Lines by ex-drug users, Escapeline - a charity supporting schools, parents and children on advice on drugs and how to escape County Lines, the amazing Janey Hamilton who goes to schools and talks about her son James who died due to his cannabis addiction and also a recently commissioned group work project for 11-16 year olds from The TalkAboutTrust which has modules on vapes,alcohol, cannabis and county lines. There is more to follow and we are collating across the SW what works and where are the gaps.
Drug policy has swung from - hug everybody and do anything you want – to - we need to lock everyone up. Neither have worked – but crucially FH2H can – in the SW we are clear-eyed about our mission to make the SW hostile to drugs whilst being compassionate to those addicted and driving with prevention to make a long-term difference.
Being robust and tough on drugs comes with costs – the cannabis lobby have tried to get us all fired. I have had a death threat (old school words cut out of a magazine) sufficiently serious to restrict my activities and my wife has been cyber stalked. The slightest hint of robustness and you are accused of being out of touch.
Well, these dinosaurs have found a new way – one that our communities applaud. We do not apologise for being tough on drugs – watch us craft a new future for the safety of all our residents – that is what 5 Conservative PCCS will do.