MPA Drugs Scrutiny

Report: 6a
Date: 31 May 2007
By: Chief Executive

Summary

This report summarises the draft findings of the MPA drugs scrutiny.

A. Recommendation

That members are invited to comment on the draft findings of the drugs scrutiny.

B. Supporting information

1. Members approved the terms of reference for the drugs scrutiny in September 2006. The scrutiny panel was chaired by Richard Sumray. Rachel Whittaker, Richard Barnes, Joanne McCartney, Damian Hockney, Elizabeth Howlett and Aneeta Prem sat on the panel.

2. The panel heard evidence between October and December 2006. Research was undertaken into the key areas identified in the terms of reference and the panel received presentations from policy makers, partners and police officers. Written questionnaires were sent to all MPS borough commanders and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. Richard Sumray also chaired a workshop with voluntary sector providers and other stakeholders including former drug users and family and community members affected by drugs.

3. Any review of drugs is potentially wide-ranging, so the panel agreed to focus its investigations on areas where it felt it would have the greatest influence, namely on the approach taken by the MPS. The panel did not consider legalisation. This is a highly contentious area of social/health policy and is being considered by Lady Runciman and Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. The panel did not feel it could do the subject justice in the time available to it.

4. The findings of the report are set out at Appendix 1. The board has made a number of recommendations that aim to deliver a more effective approach to tackling drugs, including being more explicit about the impact drugs has on overall crime in the annual policing plan.

5. Once the final report has been published, arrangements to allocate responsibility and agree timescales for implementation will be established. Regular reports will be commissioned from the MPS to update Members on the progress being made to implement recommendations.

C. Race and equality impact

The scrutiny considered equality and diversity implications throughout the review and the draft report refers to a number of concerns for example the use of formal warnings in relation to cannabis possession. Further research is being undertaken by the MPS and this will be reported back to the MPA in due course.

D. Financial implications

The review was carried out within existing MPA resources. Any implications arising out the recommendations will be reported back to the authority when the agreed action plan is brought back for approval.

E. Background papers

• COP 1 September 2006

F. Contact details

Report author: Siobhan Coldwell, Head of Scrutiny and Review, MPA

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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