The independent London Drugs Commission has published its long-awaited report which focuses primarily on cannabis use in the capital, making 42 recommendations.
The Commission, established by London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan in 2022, was tasked with considering the impact of cannabis laws on crime, particularly violent crime, public health and economic outcomes.
The recommendations include removal of the criminal sanctions for those in possession of personal amounts of cannabis (excluding synthetic cannabis), its removal from the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (to bring it under the Psychoactive Substances Act), and the opening of a drug testing (checking) service.
We broadly welcome the recommendations, in particular the emphasis on diversion schemes to reduce the number of people of colour entering the criminal justice system, as well as the focus on education for young people to warn them of the potential harms of cannabis. We also welcome the recommendation for a drug checking facility in London, which was previously put forward by the London Assembly.
It is particularly encouraging to learn that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC) have considered our pre-arrest diversion scheme, DIVERT, and the report highlights the ‘significant benefits’ that this approach could bring in London. We urge both bodies to consider implementing the scheme in London, at least on a trial basis.
The report states that black people are 3.1 times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people and this may be partially leading to decreased trust in the police among some communities. It is noted that our work with West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, where people are diverted on the street, can take ‘some of the conflict out of Stop & Search encounters’ and we believe that diversion could improve relations between communities – who are disproportionately stop and searched – and the police.
Furthermore, we believe that MOPAC and the MPS should go further in considering a diversion-focused whole system approach to managing drug use, like the model deployed by the Police and Crime Commissioner in the West Midlands. Our data shows that nearly 9 in 10 DIVERT referrals are for cannabis and we receive around 400 referrals a month in the West Midlands alone. With conservative estimates showing that each referral saves over four hours of police time, this could save thousands of hours of precious time, empowering the police to tackle other serious issues in the capital including violent crime and violence against women and girls.
Unfortunately, the report did not expand into other areas of drug harm in the capital – namely the rise of ketamine use among young people, and the increased prevalence of clusters of potent, synthetic opioids. London should consider a whole system approach to managing all levels of substance use by focusing on solutions which address the root cause of social issues related to controlled substances.
We hope that both the Commission and the London Drug Forum will continue to consider these issues and engage with providers in finding potential solutions which will reduce harm and protect Londoners.
Meg Jones, director of new business and services, said, ‘Today’s report is a step in the right direction and an acknowledgement from the Commission that the current approach is failing the people of London. It also serves as a good opportunity for us to have a grown up conversation about drugs.
‘The removal of criminal sanctions, increased use of pre-arrest diversion, a drug checking facility and additional education for young people would help to tackle the harms associated with cannabis, but the report could go further in following established global and national evidence.
‘We will be reaching out to the mayor’s office to offer further information on our DIVERT scheme and how this would work in London. We stand ready and waiting to work with the MPS and MOPAC, should they wish to trial any of our innovative approaches which have been proven to reduce racial disproportionality, cut reoffending and save police time.’
This blog was originally published by Cranstoun. You can read the original post here.
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