By ‘Drug policy has failed: drug-related deaths are at record highs and criminal gangs are more powerful than ever in our community’
The Labour Campaign for Drug Policy Reform (LCDPR) will be visiting Grimsby as part of a national tour to give local Labour supporters and the general public a say on current drug policy.
This public meeting, which will take place on Thursday 18th July, invites the people of North East Lincolnshire to have their say on the War on Drugs and to ‘shape Labour’s drug policy’. The campaign has no policy prescriptions except a collective agreement that current policy is not fit for purpose.
Grimsby sees rising harms from drugs
- Data from The Office for National Statistics show drug-related deaths are on the rise in Grimsby. In North East Lincolnshire in 2015-17, 47 people died due to drug poisoning- a 53% increase from 2012-14, where 25 people died.
- According to statistics on drug misuse from the NHS, hospital admissions due to poisoning from illicit drugs have also increased. In North East Lincolnshire in 2015-16, 79 people were admitted into hospital with a diagnosis of poisoning by illicit drugs- a 60% increase from 2013-14, where 47 were admitted.
- Meanwhile drug treatment services have seen their budget cut by £1.9million since 2013.
The campaign is founded by Labour MPs Thangam Debbonaire & Jeff Smith, and the group’s Expert Working Group is chaired by ex-Secretary of State Lord Charlie Falconer.
The line-up of speakers will discuss whether the War on Drugs is working. We will be hearing from Neil Woods, ex-undercover police officer turned drug policy reformer and bestselling author of ‘Good Cop, Bad War’, as well as PCCs Ron Hogg & Keith Hunter. Melanie Onn, MP for Great Grimsby will be chairing the discussion. The discussion will hinge on the question ‘Is the War on Drugs working?’ and will investigate whether the audience if they believe it is time for change.
The Public Meeting will comprise a panelled discussion, followed by an audience-lead Q & A with members of the public invited to discuss their views on current drug policy and how it can be changed for the better..
The campaign will also be visiting Bristol, Glasgow, Grimsby, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Southampton, Swansea & Wolverhampton with firm dates for each is to be revealed in due course. For more information please go to www.labourdrugpolicy.com or email info@labourdrugpolicy.com.
Tickets – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lcdpr-grimsby-meeting-tickets-61635455306
Date & Time – Thursday, July 18th 18.30-20.30.
Location – Lecture Theatre, 3H19Grimsby Institute Nuns Corner, Lecture Theatre 3H19, Grimsby DN34 5BQ
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