Warm words won’t tackle the drugs crisis – Diane Abbott

Diane
Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the launch of the
Government’s new drugs strategy, said:

“Rising
drug-related fatalities, drug crime and a cocktail of new drugs means that a
new effective strategy is overdue. But this isn’t it.

"Commitments
to treat addiction and tackle the social ills that accompany it are meaningless
from a Government which has cut drug treatment services and centres. There is
no new money now.

"At
the same time, this Tory Government expects law enforcement agencies to deal
with multiple new drugs and sources of supply, but has spent seven years
slashing funding to the police and border force with further cuts in the
pipeline.

"Warm
words won’t tackle the drugs crisis. Resources are needed, and mustn’t be
diverted from other hard-pressed budgets. Labour in government will tackle the
drugs crisis and review the priorities to ensure they are appropriate.”