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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Drug laws 'need major overhaul' | Drug laws 'need major overhaul' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Drug laws in Britain are expected to be criticised as being "not fit for purpose", according to a major report. | Drug laws in Britain are expected to be criticised as being "not fit for purpose", according to a major report. |
| The Royal Society of Arts (RSA) says illicit substances can be "harmless", while drinking and smoking can cause as many problems. | The Royal Society of Arts (RSA) says illicit substances can be "harmless", while drinking and smoking can cause as many problems. |
| It says the law has been "driven by moral panic", and suggests policy-making should be left to drug teams and local authorities. | It says the law has been "driven by moral panic", and suggests policy-making should be left to drug teams and local authorities. |
| The Home Office says it does not accept all of the report's recommendations. | The Home Office says it does not accept all of the report's recommendations. |
| 'Political manipulation' | 'Political manipulation' |
| Professor Anthony King of Essex University, who chaired the Commission on Illegal Drugs, said the "great majority" of drug users did not harm themselves or others. | Professor Anthony King of Essex University, who chaired the Commission on Illegal Drugs, said the "great majority" of drug users did not harm themselves or others. |
| He added: "Current policy is broke and needs to be fixed." | He added: "Current policy is broke and needs to be fixed." |
| The report, entitled Illegal Drugs, Communities and Public Policy, comes ahead of a major government review of the country's drugs strategy next year. | The report, entitled Illegal Drugs, Communities and Public Policy, comes ahead of a major government review of the country's drugs strategy next year. |
| The RSA's panel recommends scrapping the Misuse of Drugs Act and replacing it with a broader Misuse of Substances Act, and replacing the existing ABC classification system with an "index of harms". | The RSA's panel recommends scrapping the Misuse of Drugs Act and replacing it with a broader Misuse of Substances Act, and replacing the existing ABC classification system with an "index of harms". |
| The idea of a drugs-free world, or even of a drugs-free Britain, is almost certainly a chimera RSA report | The idea of a drugs-free world, or even of a drugs-free Britain, is almost certainly a chimera RSA report |
| This would extend the definition of drugs to include alcohol and tobacco - as well as illegal substances, which the report says have been "demonised". | This would extend the definition of drugs to include alcohol and tobacco - as well as illegal substances, which the report says have been "demonised". |
| It also calls for so-called "shooting galleries" to be introduced where users can inject drugs as well as wider access to prescription heroin. | It also calls for so-called "shooting galleries" to be introduced where users can inject drugs as well as wider access to prescription heroin. |
| The report suggests the wrong people are in jail and in treatment, while money is wasted trying to hit "inappropriate" targets. | The report suggests the wrong people are in jail and in treatment, while money is wasted trying to hit "inappropriate" targets. |
| The system is "crude, ineffective, riddled with anomalies and open to political manipulation", it adds. | The system is "crude, ineffective, riddled with anomalies and open to political manipulation", it adds. |
| The report argues that current drug campaigns do not work, nor does drug testing at the point of arrest and both should be abandoned. | The report argues that current drug campaigns do not work, nor does drug testing at the point of arrest and both should be abandoned. |
| It says policy should be about reducing harm and pursuing the criminal gangs behind the drugs trade rather than the level of crime. | It says policy should be about reducing harm and pursuing the criminal gangs behind the drugs trade rather than the level of crime. |
| And if drug taking does not harm anyone, then criminal sanctions should not be applied, the report continues. | And if drug taking does not harm anyone, then criminal sanctions should not be applied, the report continues. |
| Another of its recommendations is to pass the power to shape policy from the Home Office to local authorities and drug teams. | Another of its recommendations is to pass the power to shape policy from the Home Office to local authorities and drug teams. |
| 'Harmless use' | |
| The report says: "The idea of a drugs-free world, or even of a drugs-free Britain, is almost certainly a chimera." | The report says: "The idea of a drugs-free world, or even of a drugs-free Britain, is almost certainly a chimera." |
| It continues: "The use of illegal drugs is by no means always harmful any more than alcohol use is always harmful. | It continues: "The use of illegal drugs is by no means always harmful any more than alcohol use is always harmful. |
| "The evidence suggests that a majority of people who use drugs are able to use them without harming themselves or others. | "The evidence suggests that a majority of people who use drugs are able to use them without harming themselves or others. |
| "The harmless use of illegal drugs is thus possible, indeed common." | "The harmless use of illegal drugs is thus possible, indeed common." |
| It says drugs education is "inconsistent, irrelevant, disorganised" and "delivered by people without adequate training", and its main focus should shift from secondary to primary schools. | It says drugs education is "inconsistent, irrelevant, disorganised" and "delivered by people without adequate training", and its main focus should shift from secondary to primary schools. |
| The Home Office has estimated that the social cost of drug abuse alone to the country is between £10bn and £17bn a year. | The Home Office has estimated that the social cost of drug abuse alone to the country is between £10bn and £17bn a year. |
| It said its strategy has led to a 16% fall in drugs crime and more people able to access treatment. | It said its strategy has led to a 16% fall in drugs crime and more people able to access treatment. |
| Martin Barnes from the charity Drugscope said drug use needed to be addressed as a wider social problem. | Martin Barnes from the charity Drugscope said drug use needed to be addressed as a wider social problem. |
| He added: "There's really far too great an emphasis on it being a problem solely associated with crime. | He added: "There's really far too great an emphasis on it being a problem solely associated with crime. |
| "It's about public health, it's about poor mental health, it's about homelessness." | "It's about public health, it's about poor mental health, it's about homelessness." |
| The RSA has spent two years examining the impact of current policy as well as alternatives. | The RSA has spent two years examining the impact of current policy as well as alternatives. |
| 'Worryingly complacent' | |
| Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said the report was "worryingly complacent". | Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said the report was "worryingly complacent". |
| He added: "The RSA has also failed to do its homework by not surveying the views of drug addicts - who want recovery and drug-free lives - not managed dependency on methadone." | He added: "The RSA has also failed to do its homework by not surveying the views of drug addicts - who want recovery and drug-free lives - not managed dependency on methadone." |
| David Blunkett, the former home secretary, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he wanted to see "a much more sensible debate" and that he supported a "substantial" expansion of the prescribing of heroin. | |
| But James Griffith-Edwards, emeritus professor of addiction behaviour at the University of London, told BBC Radio Five Live that he was sceptical about the report. | |
| He said: "I doubt whether any swingeing remedies would get one very far." | |
| Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg called the report "an extremely important contribution" to the debate, adding: "The so-called war on drugs is failing." | |
| And Steve Rolles of drug law reform campaign group Transform praised the Commission's findings. | |
| "This really is a rational response to 30 years of dramatic failure," he said. |