Rudi Fortson – Page 6 – Rudi Fortson K.C.

Drug related deaths

2 August 2017 Rudi Fortson

The BBC news report that at least 60 people have died in the UK in the last eight months after taking the strong painkiller fentanyl, is shocking [link]. But, even more shocking is a subsequent BBC report, based on ONS statistics, which reveals that deaths involving cocaine rose by 16% to 371, while overall there were 3,744 deaths from legal and illegal drugs [link]. The purity of cocaine distributed at street level can be high, and there is a wealth of evidence that super-potent ‘Ecstasy’ is in circulation. For an explanation of fentanyl see the DrugScience website [link]. It is not just fentanyl that is a problem. The case for at least piloting a Drug Consumption Room somewhere in the UK is overwhelming. Such rooms (not to be confused with so-called “shooting galleries”) exist in many countries. Unfortunately, the UK Government has recently stated that it has “no plans to introduce drug consumption rooms” but it asserts that is “….committed to taking action to prevent the harms caused by drug use and our approach remains clear: we must prevent drug use in our communities, help dependent individuals recover, while ensuring our drugs laws are enforced” (Government Response to the ACMD, Annex B, para.7, 12th July 2017. [Link], and see [Link]. It is plain from the statistics that more needs to be done.

Psychoactive Substances Act Review

14 July 2017 Rudi Fortson

The Home Office has published a Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 Review Framework [link]. There is no doubt that the PSA has had the effect of closing down most, if not all, of the high street retail outlets selling ‘new psychoactive substances’ (i.e. those substances not controlled under the MDA 1971). Less clear, I suggest, is the extent to which (i) prevalence has changed since the PSA came into force, (ii) the quantities of NPS being sourced (e.g. online or from street dealers), and (iii) the substances most frequently consumed: see recent BBC news items [link], including news that the prison service found 1/4 metric tonne of drugs in one year [link].

Private prosecutions; asset-recovery using the private sector

28 April 2017 Rudi Fortson

Private prosecutions in the UK seem to be increasing. There is also growing interest in the use of the private sector to recover the proceeds of criminal conduct. Perhaps it is time to carefully consider whether such proceedings/actions are in the public interest (and, if they are, in what circumstances?), and to consider how they should be managed and regulated.

“Separation Centres” within prisons

25 April 2017 Rudi Fortson

The Government has published a Statutory Instrument (SI 2017 No. 576, in force 12th May 2017) that empowers the Secretary of State (under new rule 46A of the Prison Rules 1999) to direct that certain prisoners be held in “separation centres” on the grounds of “national security, preventing terrorism offences, preventing the dissemination of views that might encourage such offences, and preventing the use of particular views or beliefs to undermine good order and discipline.” [Explanatory Note]

So-called “Spice”

10 April 2017 Rudi Fortson

A BBC News item this morning concerning ‘Spice’, states that the “Effects of the synthetic drug can be extreme, causing hallucinations, psychosis, muscle weakness and paranoia”. What is actually being referred to are synthetic cannabinoids of which there are a good many, and not a single substance: see “Perspectives on Drugs: Synthetic cannabinoids in Europe” published by the EMCDDA. Many synthetic cannabinoids have been controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (UK) at various times, and those which are not controlled might be caught by the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (UK). Hopefully research is being conducted to establish prevalence of use, by whom, the supply routes, and the effectiveness of current legislation.