Drugs
Former social care chief sentenced for drug offences
An ex-deputy director of social care at Bradford MDC has been sentenced after pleading guilty to offering to supply and possessing a class A drug.
Five key principles for drug harm reduction in Sandwell
Sandwell MBC is reversing the numbers of drug-related deaths through cost-effective investment, reducing demand on criminal justice systems and the NHS and returning people back into education and employment, says Dr Lisa McNally.
Bringing drug debt into the spotlight
To coincide with National Child Exploitation Awareness Day, Waltham Forest LBC is releasing a powerful training video about drug debt produced by its children’s service and local young people. Daniel Phelps explains.
The partnership making Redbridge safer
Cllr Jas Athwal highlights the key findings of an independent Community Crime Commission investigation and sets out how Redbridge LBC is acting on its recommendations.
A whole-system approach to tackle the blight of drug abuse
Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing Eddie Hughes reflects on the Prime Minister’s announcement today on the launch of a 10-year Drugs Strategy, and the need to work closely with councils.
Joined-up action to aid street-based lives
Calderdale’s trauma-based response to Burnt Bridges? is an example of why focusing on place-based working between health, councils and voluntary organisations matters, say Robin Tuddenham and Marianne Huison.
‘Off-grid’ children at risk from county lines
Former children’s commissioner Anne Longfield has warned exclusions are likely to rise next month when schools reopen, which could lead to more children being exploited by county lines gangs.
Caring for complex issues
A Stockport MBC project working with adults with complex drug and alcohol issues won the council the top accolade for Public Health Improvement in The MJ Achievement Awards 2020. Ann McGauran looks at the work and its outcomes.
Rough sleepers to get extra support for drug and alcohol dependency
Extra funding will be given to 43 areas across England to help rough sleepers recover from drug and alcohol misuse.
Casting light on a dark problem
An innovative integrated approach to tackling drug-related harm in Blackpool is achieving promising early results – but significant challenges remain on funding, commissioning cycles and data. Ann McGauran reports.
Patel pledges £20m to 'roll up' County Lines
The home secretary’s announcement of a £20m package to tackle County Lines drugs gangs has received a mixed reaction.
The war against County Lines
Paul Marinko looks at how local authorities are tackling the scourge of County Lines – and finds that the dexterity of gangs in adapting to agencies’ responses makes a ‘monumental task’ even harder.
Directors dismiss 'recruiting sergeants' claim
Children’s services directors have dismissed as ‘wholly inappropriate’ MPs’ claims that councils are acting as inadvertent ‘recruiting sergeants’ for drugs gangs.
More joined up approach is needed from central Government to tackle county lines
Central Government departments work in silos on tackling serious violence and county lines and need to work together ‘in a more smart way’, says a council expert.
