Lib Dems Conference: Drug crime to be treated as health issue
Neil Puffett
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Young people caught in possession of drugs will be either referred for treatment or given education on the dangers, under a new policy adopted by the Liberal Democrats.
As part of attempts to create “a new evidence-based approach towards drug and alcohol-related crime” the party wants the causes to primarily be treated as a health issue.
Members of the party, which is holding its annual conference in Glasgow, voted through a range of measures on substance misuse and crime, including passing the lead on drug and alcohol-related crime to the Department of Health.
The party has also said that, subject to a review, it will consider legalising cannabis by introducing a “regulated market with tight controls on quality and strength”.
Meanwhile, the party also plans to tighten the laws on stop and search meaning that a judge would have to approve the establishment of a stop and search area.
There would also be a requirement for some police officers to wear body cameras when they stop someone.
The party has also pledged to work with the Department for Education to ensure that sexual consent, female genital mutilation (FGM), violence against women and girls, and domestic violence properly feature on the curriculum.
And it has said it will reduce the number of young people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds who are in custody.
Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat crime prevention minister, said that crime has fallen since his party has been in coalition government, but more needs to do done to tackle reoffending.
"We want to prevent crimes from happening in the first place, which is why we are tackling mental health problems and drug and alcohol misuse,” he said.
“It’s also why we are challenging offenders to face up to their crimes with more restorative justice and community payback.
"We have also ensured that the party will focus on crime-related health issues, including widening the scope of medical conditions for which medicinal cannabis can be prescribed."
Penelope Gibbs, chair of the Standing Committee for Youth Justice, said: "The Standing Committee is positive about the party's new approach to drugs, particularly the non-imprisonment of children found in possession of drugs."
