LEAP UK

Black Londoners nearly three times more likely to be strip searched Met Police accused of discriminatory practices as force remains under scrutiny after strip search of 15-year-old Child Q at school in east London

‘Black Londoners nearly three times more likely to be strip searched than white suspects’

www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...

Cocaine carnage is coming to Britain Budget blow has exploded beyond control

‘Cocaine carnage is coming to Britain’

www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...

Ketamine deaths increase twenty-fold in a decade - Drink and Drugs News Deaths involving ketamine have increased twenty-fold since 2014, according to research by King’s College London, the University of Hertfordshire and Manchester Metropolitan University.

“Deaths involving ketamine have increased twenty-fold since 2014, according to research by King’s College London, the University of Hertfordshire and Manchester Metropolitan University.”

www.drinkanddrugsnews.com/ketamine-dea...

US war on “narco-terrorists” violates the right to life, warn UN experts after deadly vessel strike GENEVA – UN experts* today condemned the extrajudicial execution by the United States of 11 people when it sank a civilian vessel in the Caribbean Sea on 2 September 2025, and three people on another ...

‘US war on “narco-terrorists” violates the right to life, warn UN experts after deadly vessel strike’

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Sheffield doorman says all security staff should carry naloxone Sheffield doorman Charlie Smith says all security workers should be trained to administer naloxone.

“All door staff should carry life-saving drug”

‘A door supervisor has said a life-saving drug should be carried as standard by security staff, after he helped a man during an overdose’

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Thousands of opioid deaths missed off official figures - BBC News The error - affecting England and Wales - raises concerns about the impact on the government's approach to drug deaths.

‘Thousands of opioid deaths missed off official figures’

More than 13,000 heroin and opioid deaths have been missed off official statistics in England and Wales, raising concerns about the impact on the government's approach to tackling addiction.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Health, Not Handcuffs, Are the Path to Ending Opioid Cris... Every overdose death is preventable. It's time to end the war on drugs and begin a new chapter.

‘Health, Not Handcuffs, Are the Path to Ending Opioid Crisis’

“Drug addiction does not exist in a vacuum. It stems from underlying trauma and mental health issues, which require proper treatment to manage.”

www.newsweek.com/health-not-h...

Ukrainian Government adopts National Drug Policy Strategy until 2030 and approves its implementation plan Ukraine has approved a new National Drug Policy strategy, which aims to improve access to controlled medicines, expand harm reduction programmes, and provide support to marginalized populations.

‘Ukrainian Government adopts National Drug Policy Strategy until 2030 and approves its implementation plan’

idpc.net/news/2025/09...

Cannabis decriminalisation backed by half of Guernsey's deputies A major review is under way looking at reforming the island's drug laws.

‘Half of Guernsey's deputies support decriminalising cannabis, according to research by the BBC.’

“Eleven of the island's 38 politicians have said they are either undecided on the issue, or will wait to see any proposals before making a decision.”

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Scottish drug deaths fall but remain worst in Europe The number of drug deaths is expected to have dropped slightly, but experts warn that any fall will most likely be a blip.

‘Scottish drug deaths fall but remain worst in Europe’

We need to do so much more. If we’re serious about saving lives then we need drastic changes to policies and attitudes.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

PSU Researchers Release Final Report in Landmark Project Exploring Impacts of Measure 110 Decriminalization Portland State University researchers have released the final findings in a three-year project examining the impacts of multiple drug policy shifts including Measure 110 which decriminalized drug poss...

Crucial study & findings released regarding the hotly contested decriminalisation process in Oregon:

“many claimed that Measure 110 was responsible for rising crime and overdose deaths. However, our findings offer little to no support for those claims,”

www.pdx.edu/news/psu-res...

A future on our own terms: The 2025 Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action For the 2025 Global Day of Action, thousands took action in 262 cities across 80 countries — demanding policies that ensure access to systems of care and support, not punishment.

‘A future on our own terms: The 2025 Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action’

This is a wonderful and inspiring roundup of events and advocacy across the globe, collated by @idpc.net

idpc.net/blog/2025/07...

Drugs policing and diversion with Matthew Bacon, senior lecturer in criminology. Does policing exist just to enforce laws, or is it bigger than that? Presenter Ben Twomey is joined by Matthew Bacon, Senior Criminology Lecturer at Sheffield…

Police-led diversion schemes, what do we know?

In this interview from Ben Twomey for Policing TV, Ben speaks to Matthew Bacon, Senior Criminology Lecturer at Sheffield University.

policing.tv/videos/matth...

Let's stop judging and start listening How can it be possible that 7 years have passed

“How can it be possible that seven years have passed since my son Ben died…”

‘Let’s stop judging and start listening.’ By Hilary Mills, a very personal testimony of how our attitudes towards people and drugs impacts families from @anyoneschild.bsky.social

anyoneschild.org/2025/07/how-...

Ex-police chief hits out at successor over lack of drug support for offenders The former Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales has criticised his successor for lack of provision of support for offenders who use drugs.

“former Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales has criticised his successor for lack of provision of support for offenders who use drugs.”

Arfon Jones, advocate of reform and a member of LEAP continues to make the case for support over punishment:

www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/2529953...

We’ve talked long enough – it's time to change the law on cannabis Discourse on the drug market often centres on the dangers substances pose to our young people

With news this week of senior police officers calling for Class A penalties, here’s a different police perspective from LEAP Scotland representative and former undercover operative, Simon McLean:

‘We’ve talked long enough – change the law on cannabis now’

www.thenational.scot/comment/2529...

HMP Styal: Rise in drug taking and self-harm at women's jail - inspection One woman at HMP Styal harmed herself 400 times in one year, inspectors find.

‘Rise in drug taking and self-harm at women's jail’

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'We have to stop criminalising people who need help,' says ex-drug squad officer LAST week, I had the privilege of attending the Association of Scottish Superintendents Annual Conference, accompanied by my former colleague…

“LAST week, I had the privilege of attending the Association of Scottish Superintendents Annual Conference, accompanied by my former colleague and retired inspector Ian Andrew.”

'We have to stop criminalising people who need help.’

www.thenational.scot/comment/2521...

Drugs campaigner Peter Krykant dies, aged 48 Peter Krykant, a former addict, set up a supervised facility from a van which he took around Glasgow.

We’re in a state of shock and grief to learn of the passing of Peter, a friend of us here and someone we’ve worked with many times.

Rest well Peter - you’ve most certainly earned that rest.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Rough sleeping is finally being decriminalised after 200 years The Vagrancy Act that has criminalised rough sleeping in England and Wales for more than 200 years is finally set to be scrapped in 2026.

‘Rough sleeping to finally be decriminalised with scrapping of 'cruel' 200-year law.
The Labour government has pledged to scrap the Vagrancy Act which has criminalised rough sleeping since the Napoleonic Wars in 2026’

www.bigissue.com/news/housing...

Sadiq Khan is right: Britain must decriminalise cannabis – or remain in the dark ages | Simon Jenkins Criminalising drugs ruins lives and wastes police resources. Many other countries have realised this – so when will UK politicians, asks Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

‘Britain must decriminalise cannabis – or remain in the dark ages’

“Criminalising drugs ruins lives and wastes police resources. Other countries realise this – when will UK politicians wake up?”

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

A whole-system response to drug prevention in the UK Report on the long-term prevention of drug use and related harms among young people.

‘A whole-system response to drug prevention in the UK’

“Report on the long-term prevention of drug use and related harms among young people.”

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Sadiq Khan says some cannabis possession should be decriminalised Cannabis is a Class B drug and people found in possession can face a fine or imprisonment.

New report is out today from the Independent London Drugs Commission, with recommendations for cannabis, including decriminalisation.

news.sky.com/story/sadiq-...

New prisons to be built and inmates released early, justice secretary says, as MoJ warns men’s jails could run out of space – as it happened MoJ says male prisons currently operating at 99% capacity

One way of reducing burdens on prisons is simple and sensible reforms around drug policy.

‘New prisons to be built and inmates released early, justice secretary says, as MoJ warns men’s jails could run out of space – as it happened’

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Our two sons died on the same night after taking a Class A drug One night in December 2014, two policemen knocked on the front door of Ray Lakeman and his wife Sarah.

‘Our two sons died on the same night after taking a Class A drug young people love... here is why I want it legalised’

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

As a senior police officer I saw first hand how the war on drugs fails IN the past policing was clear cut. Guard, watch and patrol – that was our role, our mantra, our mission. We protected life and property. That was…

‘As a senior police officer I saw first hand how the war on drugs fails’

www.thenational.scot/politics/251...

LEAP’s Simon McLean once more on the case.

Why Britain’s police forces have taken to cultivating cannabis An obscure legal argument has encouraged entrepreneurialism

So… this is unusual then!

‘Why Britain’s police forces have taken to cultivating cannabis’

“An obscure legal argument has encouraged entrepreneurialism”

www.economist.com/britain/2025...

Health Minister confirms work on cannabis laws but warns of resourcing challenges - Jersey Evening Post PROPOSALS for new legislation which would “reduce the criminalisation” of cannabis possession are set to be brought to the States Assembly later this year, the Health Minister has confirmed. Following...

‘Health Minister confirms work on cannabis laws but warns of resourcing challenges’

In Jersey, there’s a slow but steady progress.

jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2025/04...

UK Govt. Publishes Report Indicating Drug Policing Boosts Violence The findings, which echo earlier evidence, are less startling than the fact the government published them. Will it act accordingly?

‘UK Govt. Publishes Report Indicating Drug Policing Boosts Violence’

Featuring comments from Neil Woods:

“We are talking about the very fabric of security and safety in our society.”

filtermag.org/uk-goverment...

By @matthabusby.bsky.social

Oregon abandoned its radical drug law. Then came the mass arrests Last year, the state ended a trailblazing law decriminalizing possession. Drug users in some counties are now in and out of jail, without lawyers, struggling to get treatment

“Last year, the state [Oregon] ended a trailblazing law decriminalizing possession. Drug users in some counties are now in and out of jail, without lawyers, struggling to get treatment”

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...