Apr. 25 2024
Source Page: Leader of major drugs gang has sentence increasedFound: Leader of major drugs gang has sentence increased
Asked by: Cameron, Donald (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the (a) sale and (b) consumption of drugs in rural communities.
Answered by Constance, Angela - Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
The Scottish Government is committed to working collaboratively with partners on the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to reduce the significant harm caused by the illicit drugs trade to communities across Scotland.
We are also rolling out the Medication Assisted Treatment standards, which is a key component of our National Mission to reduce drug deaths and harm. These set out what people should expect from services, improvements to accessing services, choices of treatment options and wrap-around support for the people most at risk from drug harm and drug-related death.
Jan. 18 2024
Source Page: Record drug seizures as Border Force cracks down on illegal drugsFound: Record drug seizures as Border Force cracks down on illegal drugs
Jan. 18 2024
Source Page: Record drug seizures as Border Force cracks down on illegal drugsFound: Record drug seizures as Border Force cracks down on illegal drugs
Mentions:
1: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) Tomorrow morning, I will chair—as I do every quarter or so—the serious organised crime task force, which - Speech Link
2: Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Con - Highlands and Islands) To ask the Scottish Government what its priorities are for tackling crime and antisocial behaviour in - Speech Link
3: Stewart, Alexander (Con - Mid Scotland and Fife) The Scottish National Party Government has let crime spiral out of control. - Speech Link
4: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) Crime has actually fallen under this Government. - Speech Link
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to tackle the (a) importation, (b) manufacture, (c) sale and (d) distribution of nitazenes.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
In December 2021, the Government launched its ten-year drug strategy, From Harm to Hope, to cut crime and save lives. As part of this, £300 million has been allocated to fund activity to break drugs supply chains from end-to-end, this includes restricting upstream flow, securing the UK border, and ensuring we remain agile in the face of changing threats.
The NCA, the Police and Border Force are delivering a robust multi-agency response to detections of nitazenes, ensuring lines of enquiry are prioritised and vigorously pursued to stem any supply of illicit synthetic opioids to and within the UK. This approach sends a clear message to serious and organised criminals that supply of these dangerous substances will not be tolerated in the UK.
We have also established a cross-Government Taskforce to lead and co-ordinate the UK’s strategic response to the risk from synthetic opioids. Members include the Home Office, the Department for Health and Social Care, Ministry of Justice, National Crime Agency, HM Prisons and Probation Service, Border Force and the police.
The Government recently laid a draft affirmative Order in November 2023 to control 20 substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, including 14 nitazenes as Class A drugs. This will likely come into force in March. The maximum sentence for possession or supply of a Class A drug is up to life imprisonment, a fine, or both.
On 15 December 2023, the ACMD recommended an updated generic definition for nitazene variants. The Government will respond to this recommendation shortly.
Additionally, through the Criminal Justice Bill, we are introducing new powers for the police to take action against criminals who intend to use pill presses and encapsulators to manufacture illicit drugs like nitazenes and other synthetic opioids.
Found: crime groups responsible for this crime and spark systemic change - both national and international
Found: crime groups responsible for this crime and spark systemic change - both national and international
Mentions:
1: Ewing, Annabelle (SNP - Cowdenbeath) population is rising, the average age of a prisoner is 36, violence is increasing and the influence of organised - Speech Link
2: Gibson, Kenneth (SNP - Cunninghame North) Dundee revealed that vapes are now being utilised in prisons for the trafficking and administration of drugs - Speech Link
3: Clark, Katy (Lab - West Scotland) As has been said, prisons are becoming more dangerous, given the presence of drugs and the increasing - Speech Link
4: Constance, Angela (SNP - Almond Valley) crime groups, challenges around drugs and psychoactive substances, or the increased demand for social - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: James Cleverly (Con - Braintree) Today I have published a new and updated serious and organised crime strategy. - Speech Link