Oral Answers to Questions

Royston Smith Excerpts

Monday 23rd March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Royston Smith (Southampton, Itchen) (Con)]

11. What steps her Department is taking to dismantle the operations of county lines drugs gangs.

[James Cartlidge (South Suffolk) (Con)]

12. What steps her Department is taking to dismantle the operations of county lines drugs gangs.

--- Later in debate ---

[Priti Patel]

My hon. Friend is right about the risks associated with drug line gangs and covid-19. We are working with the police on this, because they are on the frontline and they monitor everything that goes on with gangs. They will not desist from the work that they are doing, and it is important that we pursue this work throughout the crisis to give the public confidence and provide reassurance that we are determined to roll up these drug gangs.

[Royston Smith]

We hear plenty about county lines networks but not so much about the customers. It is simply not acceptable for people to pop down to Waitrose on a Saturday afternoon and buy their quinoa and then invite their friends round on a Saturday evening for some recreational cannabis. Will my right hon. Friend update the House on what she is doing to try to disrupt the drugs trade—not just those who supply drugs, but those who use them?

[Priti Patel]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The use of drugs is simply unacceptable and the fact of the matter is that those who misuse and take drugs should also be aware of the consequences of their actions: children around the country are being trafficked and abused and used by drugs gangs to fuel people’s drug addictions. A great deal of work is taking place across Government on this, including by Dame Carol Black, who did a review of drugs and has provided further evidence on what other measures the Government can bring in, in addition to law enforcement measures.