A new prison specific drug strategy has been published by HM Prison and Probation Service. It mirrors the 2017 Drug Strategy in focusing on three central aims: reducing demand, restricting supply and building recovery.
It identifies five ways to deliver these aims: ensuring the right people are working in prisons; ensuring prison processes are fair and effective; ensuring prisons are safe and clean; ensuring prisoners have positive relationships and can engage in meaningful activity; and ensuring all partners involved contribute through effective joint working.
Karen Biggs, Chief Executive of Phoenix Futures, has blogged her take on the strategy. She singles out greater strategic leadership across the criminal justice system and a more streamlined commissioning process to better support the transition from custody to community treatment as two factors crucial to the success of the strategy’s implementation.
Russell Webster, substance use and criminal justice commentator, has blogged his thoughts in the first on a series of posts focused on the strategy. He explores the role mandatory drug testing could play in reducing demand in prison.
Related Content
Drug and alcohol treatment funding for 2024/25
Drug and alcohol treatment funding for 24/25 has been announced in sufficient time for planning next year’s services. However we are concerned that some areas
Collective Voice responds to the ACMD on Drug Use in Ethnic Minority Groups
Read our submission The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has issued a call for evidence around drug use in ethnic minority groups.
National Audit Office report highlights need to build upon the Drug Strategy and develop a long term, funded plan for full delivery.
Read the report “The government will only achieve value for money if it builds on the initial momentum of the new strategy and develops a