Drugs

Reducing the availability of illegal drugs

The availability of drugs and drug dealing on our streets is often accompanied by violence and disruption. It can seriously damage the quality of life in a community.

Ready availability of illegal drugs can make it easier for young people to develop into problematic drug users, and makes it harder for ex-drug users’ to stay off drugs.

Reducing the prevalence of illegal drugs

The Government is focused on reducing the availability of Class A drugs in the UK, by:

• tackling the supply of drugs at all levels - locally, regionally and internationally
• effective policing
• increasing intelligence sharing between the agencies involved, for example, the police and the inland revenue
• confiscating money made from drug trafficking

Government initiatives and actions against drug trafficking

• The Anti-Social Behaviour Act enables police to work in partnership with local authorities to close crack houses within 48 hours
• The Drugs Act 2005 (new window) brought about new police powers to test for class A drugs, and classified magic mushroom as a class A drug
• Operation Crackdown focused on closing illegal drug dens, disrupting local drugs markets, seizing illegal firearms and bringing dealers to justice
• Powers to investiage and confiscate proceeds from crime have been strengtehrened resulting in £84 million being seized
• The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) has been created to control efforts to reduce the supply of illegal drugs and will incorporate elements of HM Customs and Excise, the National Crime Squad and the National Criminal Intelligence Service
• Working with law enforcement agencies of source and transit countries to target gangs involved in the trafficking drugs
• Connected fund and website (new window) has been created offering advice and funding to reduce gun crime in communities

See Also

• Drug-related crime
• Anti-social behaviour