Drug-related police encounters across the globe: How do they compare?

Hughes, Caitlin; Barratt, Monica J.; Ferris, Jason; Maier, Larissa J.; Winstock, Adam

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.03.005

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…This is supported by a public health approach to drug use in the Netherlands more generally. Drug policy is the preserve of the Ministry of Health, with prosecutions for possession of drugs relatively rare [15,42].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Policing practices in relation to DCS in Scotland are a key factor which could either facilitate engagement, through publichealth aligned practice, or act as a barrier to engagement, through enactment of the enforcement-based practices outlined above. Given strong evidence that criminalisation of personal possession is contrary to harm reduction and public health goals [27,30,[40][41][42][43], shifting practice towards a more public health-based approach holds promise for addressing the current high levels of drug related harms in Scotland, through enabling access to harm reduction services such as DCS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Challenges for drug checking services in Scotland: a qualitative exploration of police perceptions

et al. 2022

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Background The impact of policing practices on the engagement of people who use drugs (PWUD) with harm reduction services is well evidenced. Although the police have traditionally taken an enforcement role in responding to drug use, it is increasingly clear that they can play an important part in multiagency delivery of harm reduction interventions. Despite this, there have been no studies exploring police officer perceptions of drug checking services (DCS), which provide analytical testing of client drug samples alongside harm reduction support and advice. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 police officers to explore the policing and legal challenges which could be encountered in the delivery of DCS in Scotland. Results Participants expressed general support for DCS and described this support as part of a wider organisational shift towards public health-oriented policing. Participants also discussed different potential approaches to the policing of areas surrounding DCS including: formal limits on police presence around the service and/or stop and search powers in relation to personal possession; the effective decriminalisation of personal possession within a specified boundary around the service; and informal agreements between local divisions and DCS outlining expected policing practices. Any formal limitation on the capacity of police officers to respond to community concerns was viewed as problematic and as having the potential to erode public confidence in policing. Participants also highlighted the potential for frontline officers to utilise discretion in ways which could undermine public health goals. Legislative change, or national strategic guidance from relevant stakeholders, was seen as a means of providing ‘cover’, enabling local divisions to support the operation of drug checking. Conclusions Despite a small sample of participants, this study summarises key challenges to be addressed in the implementation and operation of DCS in Scotland, and more widely. The paper concludes with suggested opportunities to develop approaches to policing that can facilitate rather than impede implementation and operation of these services.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges for drug checking services in Scotland: a qualitative exploration of police perceptions

et al. 2022

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“…Higher rates of policing for drug use among particular populations is well documented [ 34 , 35 ]. In Australia, studies on social bias in policing have found higher rates of stop and search and arrests for drug use for people who are younger, male, Aboriginal, a minority ethnicity, unemployed and with prior police encounters [ 36 , 37 , 38 ]. Further research with both the police and disadvantaged populations is therefore warranted to better understand the scale of negative policing regarding the ACT cannabis bill, the experiences of disadvantaged populations with cannabis law reform, and other implementation challenges.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Navigating the grey: Experiences of incremental cannabis reform in Australia

Barrett

Mellor

Ritter

et al. 2022

Drug and Alcohol Review

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Introduction and Aims: There have been many changes to cannabis laws across the globe, some dramatic but more often incremental. This study explored the experiences after an incremental cannabis law reform in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Method: Semi-structured interviews (n = 30) were conducted in March and April 2021, 14 months after the introduction of cannabis law reform, with people aged 18 and over who had grown and/or consumed cannabis in the previous 12 months. Participants were asked about recent and past cannabis use, growing cannabis and changes to their practices after the introduction of the legislation. Results: Incremental cannabis law change resulted in regulatory grey areas. How people interpreted and navigated such grey areas were connected to their relative privileges, circumstances and histories. Those who were highly policed were more likely to experience the grey areas negatively. Those who were not highly policed found the grey areas confusing or 'half-arse' (insufficiently executed), but mostly experienced the new laws positively through new cannabis cultivation or perceived reduction in stigma and fear of arrest. Those with self-identified privilege were unconcerned with grey areas of the legislation. Discussion and Conclusion:Incremental policy change can result in grey areas that require some navigation. Vulnerable populations appear less likely to experience the full benefits of such incremental drug law reform. It is vital to attend to the inequities that can arise from incremental law reform so that positive experiences are shared across the population regardless of relative privilege.

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“…One such group of working dogs is Drug Detection Dogs (DDDs); dogs that have been trained to search and identify various target odours, including narcotics or other drugs, on command. A crossnational analysis involving 26 countries revealed Australia as one of the top 4 countries (along with Italy, Scotland and the UK) for high frequency use of DDDs, up to 14 times more common than some other countries when controlling for individual and national factors (Hughes et al, 2018). In Australia, these dogs can be found in government agencies such as Australian Border Force (formerly Customs), Australian Federal Police, State and Territory Police, and Correctional Services.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%