IDPC-Chatham House-IISS seminar 2: Modernising drug law enforcement

On 16 September 2013 Chatham House hosted a day-long seminar in London as part of the “Modernising Drug Law Enforcement” (MDLE) project, led by the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), with the participation of the International Security Research Department at Chatham House and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

The project aims to examine new strategies for drug law enforcement that focus on beneficially shaping – rather than entirely eradicating – drug markets, and managing them in a way that minimises harms on communities. A series of commissioned reports and meetings attempt to provide useful guidance to law enforcement managers on how to develop strategies and tactics that are relevant to the challenges posed by 21st century drug markets.

The event, aimed primarily at law enforcement practitioners, was designed to discuss and promote new approaches to law enforcement and policing with a view to improving drug law enforcement strategies. Three reports were presented at the event:

• ‘Practical implications of policing alternatives to arrest and prosecution for minor cannabis offences’, by Geoffrey Monaghan and Dave Bewley-Taylor
• ‘Drug law enforcement and financial investigation strategies’, by Michael Levi
• ‘Drug markets, security and foreign aid’, by Virginia Comolli and Claudia Hofmann

All proceedings were held under the Chatham House Rule. The report below highlights the key themes and findings of the discussions.

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