This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29824764
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| No link between tough penalties and drug use - report | No link between tough penalties and drug use - report |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| There is "no obvious relationship" between tough laws and levels of drug use, a government report has suggested. | There is "no obvious relationship" between tough laws and levels of drug use, a government report has suggested. |
| It compared the UK with countries like Portugal, where possession of small amounts of drugs no longer carries criminal sanctions. | It compared the UK with countries like Portugal, where possession of small amounts of drugs no longer carries criminal sanctions. |
| Liberal Democrat Home Office minister Norman Baker said the findings should prompt the end of "mindless rhetoric" on drugs with a new focus on treatment. | Liberal Democrat Home Office minister Norman Baker said the findings should prompt the end of "mindless rhetoric" on drugs with a new focus on treatment. |
| The government said it had "no intention" of decriminalising drugs. | |
| The report comes as the Home Office launches a clampdown on "legal highs". | The report comes as the Home Office launches a clampdown on "legal highs". |
| 'Historic' | 'Historic' |
| The report explored different ways in which 13 countries approach drug misuse and compared them the UK. | The report explored different ways in which 13 countries approach drug misuse and compared them the UK. |
| After examining a range of approaches, from zero-tolerance to decriminalisation, the research concluded that drug use is influenced by factors "more complex and nuanced than legislation and enforcement alone." | After examining a range of approaches, from zero-tolerance to decriminalisation, the research concluded that drug use is influenced by factors "more complex and nuanced than legislation and enforcement alone." |
| However, the report found there had been a "considerable" improvement in the health of drug users in Portugal since the country made drug possession a health issue rather than a criminal one in 2001. | |
| The Home Office said these outcomes cannot be attributed to decriminalisation alone and the UK government had "absolutely no intention of decriminalising drugs." | The Home Office said these outcomes cannot be attributed to decriminalisation alone and the UK government had "absolutely no intention of decriminalising drugs." |
| Mr Baker said treating drug use as a health matter would be much more effective in minimising harm. | Mr Baker said treating drug use as a health matter would be much more effective in minimising harm. |
| "Let's look at what works rather than presuming locking people up is the answer. | "Let's look at what works rather than presuming locking people up is the answer. |
| "People are treated as a number, they're given a fine, they're given a caution, they're put in prison and none of that changes their drug habit. | "People are treated as a number, they're given a fine, they're given a caution, they're put in prison and none of that changes their drug habit. |
| "If we're interested in changing people's behaviour then we need to look at it from a health point of view," Mr Baker said. | "If we're interested in changing people's behaviour then we need to look at it from a health point of view," Mr Baker said. |
| Decriminalisation | Decriminalisation |
| Earlier this year Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg pledged to abolish prison sentences for the possession of drugs for personal use. | Earlier this year Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg pledged to abolish prison sentences for the possession of drugs for personal use. |
| Mr Clegg challenged David Cameron to look at issues such as decriminalisation, despite the prime minister previously rejecting calls for a Royal Commission to consider the issue. | Mr Clegg challenged David Cameron to look at issues such as decriminalisation, despite the prime minister previously rejecting calls for a Royal Commission to consider the issue. |
| But BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said Mr Baker's views were at odds with the official Home Office position, which says the current drug strategy is working. | But BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said Mr Baker's views were at odds with the official Home Office position, which says the current drug strategy is working. |
| Danny Kushlick, the founder of the group Transform, which has been campaigning for the legal regulation of drugs in the UK for almost 20 years, said the report was an important step. | Danny Kushlick, the founder of the group Transform, which has been campaigning for the legal regulation of drugs in the UK for almost 20 years, said the report was an important step. |
| He added: "For the first time in over 40 years the Home Office has admitted that enforcing tough drug laws doesn't necessarily reduce levels of drug use. | He added: "For the first time in over 40 years the Home Office has admitted that enforcing tough drug laws doesn't necessarily reduce levels of drug use. |
| "Decriminalising the possession of drugs doesn't increase levels of use." | "Decriminalising the possession of drugs doesn't increase levels of use." |
| Legal highs | Legal highs |
| A separate Home Office report calls for a blanket ban on all brain-altering drugs in a bid to tackle legal highs. | A separate Home Office report calls for a blanket ban on all brain-altering drugs in a bid to tackle legal highs. |
| Currently, when a legal high is made illegal, manufacturers are avoiding the law by tweaking the chemical compound and creating a new substance. | Currently, when a legal high is made illegal, manufacturers are avoiding the law by tweaking the chemical compound and creating a new substance. |
| The government is going to consider legislation introduced in Ireland four years ago that bans the sale of all "psychoactive" substances but exempts some, such as alcohol and tobacco. | The government is going to consider legislation introduced in Ireland four years ago that bans the sale of all "psychoactive" substances but exempts some, such as alcohol and tobacco. |
| Mr Baker said: "From today we will start looking into the feasibility of a blanket ban on new psychoactive substances across the whole of the UK, clamping down on the suppliers and head shops rather than the users. | Mr Baker said: "From today we will start looking into the feasibility of a blanket ban on new psychoactive substances across the whole of the UK, clamping down on the suppliers and head shops rather than the users. |
| "This approach had a dramatic impact on the availability of legal highs when introduced in Ireland, but we must ensure it would work here too." | "This approach had a dramatic impact on the availability of legal highs when introduced in Ireland, but we must ensure it would work here too." |
| Drug laws in some parts of the world have been relaxed in recent years. | |
| Last year, Uruguay became the first country in the world to make it legal to grow, sell and consume marijuana. | |
| From the start of this year, Colorado became the first US state to allow stores to sell cannabis for recreational purposes. |