Policing

News22 April 2025

France: How the “war on drugs” is turbo-charging surveillance powers

French bill proposes draconian expansion of surveillance powers in the name of drug control, despite lack of evidence for efficacy and substantial risks for privacy, digital security, and civil liberties.

News7 April 2025

US: Oregon abandoned its radical drug law. Then came the mass arrests

The state's decriminalisation rollback has led to thousands of arrests feeding disruptive cycles of detention and release with no improvements in access to housing, healthcare and other forms of support.

Events

A World of Harm: How US taxpayers fund the global war on drugs over evidence-based health responses

Virtual

4 December 2024 - 4 December 2024

HRI and DPA extend an invitation to a launch webinar showcasing their recent report, which analyses harms caused by US international drug control spending.

Publications1 October 2024

Criminal legal system engagement among people who use drugs in Oregon following decriminalization of drug possession

Smiley-McDonald et al. find that despite decriminalisation, people who use drugs in Oregon continued to face high levels of policing, incarceration and drug seizures, whilst awareness of decriminalisation remained low.

Publications1 October 2024

Know your rights: On drug laws for Indigenous people who use drugs

The HIV Legal Network highlight the deep-rooted colonialism and racism underpinning Canada's drug laws, offering Indigenous people who use drugs crucial knowledge about their legal rights and protections.

Publications16 September 2024

The false promises of Oregon’s drug recriminalisation - Factsheet

Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) explains the decriminalisation model in Oregon, its reversal after a misinformation campaign, and the costs and harms of recriminalisation.

Publications15 September 2024

Drug market risk environment and navigational strategies of street-level dealers in Nigeria

Nelson et al. investigate the many tactics street dealers use to mitigate risks of police harassment, arrest, and violence, and call on the government to focus on systemic rather than law enforcement solutions.

Publications11 September 2024

“What I should be doing is harm reduction, if I’m doing my job right”: Engagement with harm reduction principles among prosecutors enacting drug policy reform in the United States

Rouhani et al. explore how US prosecutors use harm reduction principles to shape criminal justice outcomes for people who use drugs, revealing the potential for pro-drug policy reform.

Publications13 August 2024

Communication to the UN CESCR regarding Honduras periodic review on the right to health of people who use drugs

IDPC and LANPUD focus on key health indicators, impact on criminalisation and stigma, and availability of harm reduction services in Honduras.

Publications8 July 2024

Reforming drug laws to address racial injustice - Submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

Release, Amnesty International, UNJUST UK, HRI and IDPC shed light on racial disparities in drug policing and associated human rights violations, urging for decriminalisation, the redirection of resources into care systems, and equitable reform.

Publications25 June 2024

LGBTQI+ people who use drugs in Thailand: Advocacy for improved health and human rights responses

APCOM and IDPC urge the public, law enforcement, and policymakers in Thailand to help ensure equality and equity for LGBTQ+ people who use drugs, especially in their access to health and social services, and ending stigma and discrimination against them.

Publications18 June 2024

Decriminalisation or police mission creep? Critical appraisal of law enforcement involvement in British Columbia, Canada’s decriminalisation framework

Michaud et. al. critique the central involvement of the police which crowds out public health approaches in BC's decriminalisation.

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