How do we help create peace after the war on drugs?

PANEL PRESENTATION AND QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Chief Constable Mike Barton joined Lancashire Constabulary in 1980 and in 2008 he joined Durham Constabulary as Assistant Chief Constable. He was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable and then Chief Constable in February 2013. He has attracted a degree of media attention through his advocacy for a ‘grown up’ debate on drugs challenging the efficacy of outright prohibition. He believes that people with substance use issues should be treated and supported into recovery, not criminalised. He is a huge supporter and active champion of recovery.

Kirstie Douse is head of Legal Services at Release, the national centre of expertise on drugs and drugs law. Release believe in a just and fair society where drug policies should reduce the harms associated with drugs, and where those who use drugs are treated based on principles of human rights, dignity and equality.

Fiona Gilbertson is a co founder of Recovering Justice and is in long term recovery. She believes that the fundamental way to tackle stigma and discrimination is through policy change. People need rights not concessions.

Suzanne Sharkey is a spokesperson for LEAP UK -Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. LEAP is made up of current and former members of the law enforcement and criminal justice communities who are speaking out about the failures of our existing drug policies. Suzanne was a Police Officer for 5 years as an undercover drugs buyer. She is also in long term recovery from problematic substance misuse.

Jane Slater has worked at Transform since 2007. She now leads the Anyone's Child: Families for Safer Drug Control campaign, a network of families whose lives have been wrecked by the current approach to drugs and are now campaigning for the legal control and regulation of drugs.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.