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EXCLUSIVE. Cheshire's police and crime commissioner (PCC) David Keane has said the war on drugs is "not working" as he called for a national policy review.
In a frank statement citing record drug death rates, Mr Keane said a "different approach" was needed.
The Weekly News...
In a frank statement citing record drug death rates, Mr Keane said a "different approach" was needed.
The Weekly News...
asked Mr Keane, Labour, for comment following a recent run of high profiles announcements reflecting a major shift in policy in parts of the UK.
In Cleveland, PCC Barry Coppinger, Labour, revealed that addicts are to receive free heroin and be allowed to inject the drug three..
In Cleveland, PCC Barry Coppinger, Labour, revealed that addicts are to receive free heroin and be allowed to inject the drug three..
. times a day at NHS clinics at an annual cost of £440,000 in a bid to cut drug-related crime.
In North Wales, former police inspector PCC Arfon Jones, of Plaid Cymru, is supporting an initiative that will mean users found in possession of heroin can avoid prison if they...
In North Wales, former police inspector PCC Arfon Jones, of Plaid Cymru, is supporting an initiative that will mean users found in possession of heroin can avoid prison if they...
accept rehabilitation instead.
North of the border, the Scottish National Party has publicly backed drug decriminalisation as it continues to struggle with alarming death rates.
According to Office for National Statistics data published in August, the rate of drug misuse...
North of the border, the Scottish National Party has publicly backed drug decriminalisation as it continues to struggle with alarming death rates.
According to Office for National Statistics data published in August, the rate of drug misuse...
deaths in England increased by 41% between 2006-08 and 2016-2018.
In the North West, it increased by 51%.
For Merseyside, the rate has increased by 71.7% since 2010-12.
Commissioner Keane's force area of Cheshire experienced drug death rate rises for most of the county.
In the North West, it increased by 51%.
For Merseyside, the rate has increased by 71.7% since 2010-12.
Commissioner Keane's force area of Cheshire experienced drug death rate rises for most of the county.
In Halton it grew by 59%, although it has remained reasonably steady in the borough in recent years and was its lowest recorded level in 2016-18 since 2011-13.
Over the same 10-years, in drug misuse deaths increased by 83% in Cheshire East...
Over the same 10-years, in drug misuse deaths increased by 83% in Cheshire East...
by 87% in Cheshire West and Chester, but fell by 4.5% in Warrington.
The general picture of rising drug death rates also coincides with public spending austerity policies after the 2008 financial crash and a generation of 1980s and 1990s drug users now entering middle age and...
The general picture of rising drug death rates also coincides with public spending austerity policies after the 2008 financial crash and a generation of 1980s and 1990s drug users now entering middle age and...
later life.
Although Mr Keane did not express any view either way on the issue of decriminalisation or legalisation, he called for a policy review.
He said: "With drug-related deaths at a record-high, we know that the war on drugs is not working and that we need a different...
Although Mr Keane did not express any view either way on the issue of decriminalisation or legalisation, he called for a policy review.
He said: "With drug-related deaths at a record-high, we know that the war on drugs is not working and that we need a different...
approach to support those addicted to illegal substances.
"This is a national issue and the solution to reducing drug-related crime needs to be explored through a review of existing drugs policies to reduce drug-misuse in our communities.
"I have been working with other...
"This is a national issue and the solution to reducing drug-related crime needs to be explored through a review of existing drugs policies to reduce drug-misuse in our communities.
"I have been working with other...
police and crime commissioners across the country, through my work with the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, to call for the government to review its existing polices and funding streams to ensure there is appropriate support in place."
