News / Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Bristol West MP calls on Prime Minister to reform ‘failing’ drugs laws
Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire has challenged Theresa May to change “outdated drugs laws that are failing everyone”.
The outspoken campaigner for reform urged Theresa May to watch the new BBC documentary Drugsland, shot in her constituency, which depicts the city’s dark underbelly and portrays the devastating impact of drugs on the entire community.
Neighbourhood officers PC Ben Spence and Sgt Chris Green in Drugsland. – (C) BBC – Photographer: Charlie Clift
Kicking off Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday (November 21), Debbonaire told May that current drugs laws are plainly failing as she appealed for a change in legislation.
is needed now More than ever
“Mr Speaker, the BBC are currently broadcasting Drugsland showing the catastrophic impact of drugs and drugs laws, not just on users but on the police and innocent bystanders,” said Debbonaire.
“So will the Prime Minister commit to watching Drugsland and to a Royal Commission on our drugs laws which are plainly failing?”
In response, May said: “I’m pleased to say the Home Office under my honourable friend the home secretary launched the government’s drugs strategy only a matter of weeks ago.
“We recognise the importance of this issue: drugs significantly affect people’s lives and sadly we also see people dying as a result of taking drugs but also the criminal activity that takes place around drugs. We take this very seriously; that’s why we’ve launched our strategy.”
Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy had a typically down-to-earth response to the Prime Minister’s reply:
Drugsland goes behind the scenes with police and shows officers working to win the war on drugs, but Avon and Somerset police bosses have already warned the force has reached a ‘tipping point’ and such front line policing will be put at risk if the Government imposes any further cuts.
Rich and J are a homeless couple who live in a multi-story car park in central Bristol and use up to a thousand pounds worth of crack and heroin a week. – (C) BBC
Debbonaire features in episode four of the documentary series, in which she outlines her argument as to why prohibition has become part of the problem.
The Bristol West MP recently spoke to Bristol24/7 about why she is calling for a reform of drugs laws and she highlighted some of the deficiencies in the government’s long-overdue drugs strategy in her speech during the debate in July.
Crispin Blunt, Conservative MP for Reigate, picked up the question after Debbonaire and urged the Prime Minister to look again at our drugs laws in the light of changes globally.
Debbonaire says that Theresa May’s response to her own MP indicated she has no intention of altering UK drugs policy.
Read more: BBC series ‘Drugsland’ shows the dark side of Bristol
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
