London borough demands greater powers over “lawless” shisha cafes – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 23rd, 2017 in drug abuse, licensed premises, local government, news, noise, smoking by sally

‘Local authorities must be given more powers to shut down unregulated shisha cafes as loopholes in Government legislation allow venues to reopen “virtually overnight”, Brent Council has said.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 22nd February 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Helen Bailey murder verdict: Fiance guilty of killing children’s author – The Independent

Posted February 23rd, 2017 in domestic violence, drug abuse, murder, news, perverting the course of justice by sally

‘The partner of bestselling children’s author Helen Bailey has been convicted of drugging and killing her in a long-planned plot to get hold of her £3.3 million estate.’

Full story

The Independent, 22nd February 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Illegal substances creating ‘violent and volatile’ prisons – BBC News

Posted February 9th, 2017 in drug abuse, news, prison officers, prisons, violence by sally

‘A “violent and volatile prison population” is being fuelled by better access to so-called legal highs, a union has said.’

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BBC News, 9th February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Exeter prison struggling with drugs and rising violence, say inspectors – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2017 in drug abuse, news, prisons, reports, self-harm, violence by tracey

‘Prison inspectors have warned that the situation at Exeter jail is “fragile”, with drugs thrown over the wall on a daily basis and only 29 officers on duty for 490 prisoners. The chief inspector’s report published on Wednesday says staff shortages at the overcrowded category B Victorian prison are exacerbated by problems including drugs and mental health issues, leaving the prison struggling to cope with rising violence and self-harm incidents.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st February 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Is the ‘legal highs’ ban working? – BBC News

Posted January 27th, 2017 in drug abuse, drug offences, news by sally

‘It is eight months since the British government banned the drugs that were known as “legal highs”.’

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BBC News, 25th January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Becky Morgan: Man jailed for not helping drowning teenager – BBC News

Posted January 27th, 2017 in alcohol abuse, drug abuse, homicide, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man has been jailed for killing a 17-year-old woman by not helping her when she fell into the sea.’

Full story

BBC News, January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Former grammar school boy who did not help drowning teenager whilst high on drink on drugs is jailed for manslaughter – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 27th, 2017 in alcohol abuse, drug abuse, homicide, news, sentencing by sally

‘A grammar school pupil who left his date to drown without helping her after taking a cocktail of drink and drugs has been jailed for manslaughter.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th January 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Poppy Widdison death: Mother and partner jailed for 13 years – BBC News

Posted January 20th, 2017 in child cruelty, drug abuse, news, sentencing by sally

‘A mother and her ex-partner have been jailed for 13 years each after being convicted of feeding drugs to her four-year-old daughter.’

Full story

BBC News, 19th January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Poppy Widdison: Agencies missed chances to protect drugged girl – BBC News

Posted January 12th, 2017 in child cruelty, children, drug abuse, news, reports, social services by tracey

‘Agencies missed several chances to protect a girl who died after being fed drugs by her mother, a serious case review has found.’

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BBC News, 11th January 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

HMP Birmingham riot shows public and private jails are in crisis – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2016 in criminal justice, drug abuse, news, prisons, violent disorder by sally

‘It is no surprise that the prison authorities are closely monitoring every jail in England and Wales for signs of potential unrest after the riot at HMP Birmingham on Friday.’

Full story

The Guardian, 19th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

It’s time to decriminalize drugs, commission report says – The Guardian

Posted November 22nd, 2016 in crime, drug abuse, drug offences, health, news, reports, United Nations by sally

‘World leaders called for the decriminalization of drugs on Monday, in a report released by a commission that includes the former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and former presidents of Colombia, Mexico and Brazil.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legalisation of cannabis ‘only solution to crime and addiction problems’ – The Guardian

Posted November 21st, 2016 in drug abuse, drug offences, news by sally

‘Report by Adam Smith Institute says UK’s drug strategy ‘has failed in its core aims’ and urges government to legalise cannabis.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BMJ medical journal calls for legalisation of drugs – The Independent

Posted November 15th, 2016 in crime, doctors, drug abuse, drug offences, health, news by tracey

‘The British Medical Journal has called for the legalisation of illicit drugs for the first time.’

Full story

The Independent, 15th November 2016

Source; www.independent.co.uk

Justice Secretary calls time on failing prisons in white paper to help cut crime and protect society – Ministry of Justice

‘Justice Secretary embarks on a major shake-up of prisons to help cut £15bn cost of reoffending.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 3rd November 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Prisons in England and Wales get boost of 2,500 new staff to tackle violence -The Guardian

‘An extra 2,500 frontline prison staff are to be recruited to tackle soaring levels of gang violence, drug abuse and attacks on staff and inmates inside prisons across England and Wales, the justice secretary is to announce.’

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Daisy Mae Burrill murder: Fleetwood father gets life sentence – BBC News

Posted October 27th, 2016 in children, drug abuse, murder, news, sentencing by sally

‘A father who violently threw his crying baby on to the sofa in a fit of temper has been jailed for life for her murder.’

Full story

BBC News, 26th October 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Drug dependence: treatment over incarceration – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted October 19th, 2016 in crime, drug abuse, drug offences, health, news, rehabilitation by sally

‘Drug dependence has significant direct and indirect costs to society beyond the impact on individuals. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction estimates that in 2010 alone, between €3.7b to 5.9b of public money was spent on drug-law offenders in prisons in Europe. This figure does not include the cost of criminal justice responses to drug-using offenders who have been convicted of other crimes that may have been motivated in part by drug-dependency.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 18th October 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Man who stole car with baby inside sentenced to two years’ detention – BBC News

Posted October 19th, 2016 in children, drug abuse, kidnapping, news, sentencing, theft by sally

‘A man who stole a car with two children inside before abandoning the baby on a doorstep has been sentenced to two years’ detention.’

Full story

BBC News, 18th October 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Conman who pretended washing powder was cocaine guilty of defrauding drug users – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 5th, 2016 in drug abuse, drug offences, fraud, illegality, news by sally

‘A conman who was found to be selling washing powder as cocaine has ended up in court for fraud.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th October 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Government pledges 400 extra prison officers for country’s toughest jails – The Independent

Posted October 4th, 2016 in drug abuse, news, prison officers, prisons, speeches by sally

‘The Government is pledging £14m to pay for 400 prison officers who will help tackle drugs and violence in the country’s toughest prisons.’

Full story

The Independent, 4th October 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk