People who take illegal drugs ‘shouldn’t be treated as criminals’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 24th, 2013 in crime, doctors, drug abuse, drug offences, health, news by sally

“England’s most senior doctor has questioned the government’s policy of criminalising all people who take illegal drugs and said they should be treated primarily as if they have a ‘health problem’.”

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd January 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Drugs advisory group decides against banning qat in UK – The Guardian

Posted January 24th, 2013 in crime, drug abuse, news, reports, terrorism by sally

“A clash between the home secretary, Theresa May, and her expert drugs advisory group is looming after it decided against banning qat, a mild herbal stimulant, traditionally used in Britain’s Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities.”

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The Guardian, 23rd January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

How UK libel laws undermined Sunday Times in Lance Armstrong case – The Guardian

Posted January 22nd, 2013 in burden of proof, defamation, drug abuse, media, news, sport by sally

“The legal battle with disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong which cost the Sunday Times almost £1m after it suggested he took banned substances shows how difficult it is to pursue investigations under British libel laws, with the burden of proof heavily stacked against publishers, according to those who worked on the original stories.”

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The Guardian, 22nd January 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Roy Sly murder: ‘Sadistic torture’ killers jailed – BBC News

Posted December 20th, 2012 in alcohol abuse, drug abuse, murder, news, sentencing by tracey

“Two people have been jailed for the ‘sadistic torture’ murder of a friend who
invited them for a meal in Essex.”

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BBC News, 20th December 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mandatory post-release rehab courses for short-sentence prisoners unveiled – The Guardian

Posted November 20th, 2012 in drug abuse, news, prisons, probation, rehabilitation, sentencing by sally

“Prisoners serving less than 12 months will have to agree to undertake a post-release rehabilitation programme as a condition of their release under legislation planned by the justice secretary, Chris Grayling.”

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The Guardian, 20th November 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

No article 2 inquest over 14-year-old overdose death, despite failings – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 15th, 2012 in drug abuse, human rights, inquests, news, social services by sally

“The High Court – including the new Chief Coroner – has held that the enhanced investigative duty under Article 2, the right to life, is not engaged in an inquest into the death of a 14 year old boy, despite ‘many missed opportunities’ for intervention by social services being identified.”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 14th November 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Cycling may require new governing body in wake of doping scandal, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 6th, 2012 in brand names, compensation, drug abuse, news, sport by sally

“A new governing body may be needed if cycling is to recover from the drugs scandal currently engulfing the sport, an expert has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 6th November 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Kingswear’s Dart Princess ferry thief ‘Jack Sparrow’ jailed – BBC News

Posted September 21st, 2012 in aggravated vehicle taking, drug abuse, news, sentencing by tracey

“A woman who shouted ‘I’m Jack Sparrow’ at police as she stole a ferry was lucky she was not injured, the owners of the vessel said. Alison Whelan referred to the movie pirate character as she took the Dart Princess on the River Dart in Devon. She was jailed after being found guilty by magistrates in Torquay of aggravated vehicle taking last September.”

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BBC News, 20th September 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cheesy chips row led to Blackpool chef killing – BBC News

Posted September 11th, 2012 in alcohol abuse, assault, drug abuse, guilty pleas, homicide, news, sentencing by tracey

“A man has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for killing a chef in a row over cheesy chips at a Blackpool takeaway.”

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BBC News, 10th September 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Toddler’s death due to methadone overdose ‘could have been prevented’ – The Guardian

“A toddler died from a methadone overdose after professionals who had long-standing contact with the boy and his drug-using parents missed opportunities to take him into care, a report has revealed.”

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The Guardian, 4th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Kyle Bates Swansea heroin death: Helen Harding jailed – BBC News

Posted September 4th, 2012 in drug abuse, homicide, inquests, news, perjury, sentencing by tracey

“A woman who injected a 16-year-old boy with heroin and then lied about it at his inquest has been jailed for three years at Swansea Crown Court.”

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BBC News, 3rd September 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man guilty of raping three children – The Independent

Posted August 21st, 2012 in children, drug abuse, news, rape, sexual offences by sally

“A man pleaded guilty today to raping three young children he had drugged and who were also forced to sexually abuse each other while he watched.”

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The Independent, 20th August 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tetra Pak heir Hans Rausing avoids jail over failing to bury wife Eva – The Independent

“Hans Rausing, one of Britain’s richest men, avoided a jail sentence today after he admitted preventing the lawful and decent burial of his wife Eva’s body.”

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The Independent, 1st August 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Drug driving law will hit medicine users – The Independent

Posted July 30th, 2012 in drug abuse, medicines, news, road traffic offences by sally

“Motorists using prescribed painkillers such as morphine and codeine could be charged with ‘drug driving’ under a new law designed to keep dangerous hard drug users off British roads, doctors and campaigners have warned.”

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The Independent, 29th July 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Addicts to lose benefits if they refuse treatment – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 23rd, 2012 in alcohol abuse, benefits, drug abuse, medical treatment, news by sally

“Alcoholics and drug addicts will lose their benefits if they refuse to accept treatment, under plans to be announced today.”

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Daily Telegraph, 23rd May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Juror fined £450 after smoking cannabis on rape trial lunch break – The Independent

Posted May 18th, 2012 in drug abuse, fines, juries, news by sally

“A juror on a rape trial who smoked a cannabis joint in his lunch hour was today fined £450 after admitting contempt of court.”

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The Independent, 18th May 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Anaesthetist who took drugs before going into the operating theatre loses appeal – Daily Telegraph

“A hospital doctor who took handfuls of pain killers and injected himself with drugs before work each morning was rightly struck off for his ‘blatant disregard for patient safety’, the High Court has ruled.”

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Daily Telegraph, 9th May 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Drug-drivers to face jail time under new law – The Guardian

Posted May 8th, 2012 in bills, careless driving, drug abuse, drug offences, news by sally

“Drivers found to have taken drugs face a prison sentence of up to six months and a fine of up to £5,000 under new legislation, ministers reveal on Monday.”

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The Guardian, 7th May 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BOA expects to lose court battle with Wada over drugs ban – BBC News

Posted April 20th, 2012 in drug abuse, news, sport by sally

“The British Olympic Association (BOA) believes it is likely to lose its legal battle with the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), BBC Sport understands.”

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BBC News, 20th April 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Curbs planned on motorists who abuse prescription drugs – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 10th, 2012 in drug abuse, medicines, news, road traffic offences, sentencing by sally

“Motorists who get behind the wheel while impaired by prescribed drugs will face prosecution under new laws to be unveiled by ministers next month.”

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Daily Telegraph, 10th April 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk