Alex Norris responds to the NAO's report on the Government’s 2021 drug strategy

Alex Norris MP, Labour’s Shadow Policing Minister, responding to the National Audit Office’s report on the Government’s 2021 drug strategy, said:

“The Government were given clear warnings by Dame Carol Black’s review in 2021 that greater prevention work was required to reduce the harm from illegal drugs. Shockingly, this report outlines that the Government still do not have an effective drug prevention strategy.

“Drug related deaths are at record levels and drug dealing in neighbourhoods, town centres and outside local schools has become a growing problem. Criminal gangs are deliberately luring young people into drug dealing, crime and violence. Yet the Government have no plan to save lives and keep drugs off the streets.

“Labour will deliver an extra 13,000 neighbourhood police and PCSOs to crackdown on antisocial behaviour and drug dealing on our streets. We will also will make grooming and criminal exploitation of children illegal to target gangs who deliberately draw children and teenagers into county lines.

“It is critical that the Government now take heed of yet another warning and act promptly to reduce the harm of illegal drugs in communities.”