Everyone knows that drug-related harm is spiralling out of control.
Drugs frequently hit the headlines, from rising drug deaths in inner cities to vulnerable children falling into the grasp of ruthless organised criminals.
Behind these headlines lies an even murkier world of drug trafficking, police informants and turf wars. In an illegal market, the only regulating factors are violence and corruption.
As an undercover police officer, our guest Neil Woods was part of that world. His work led to the arrests of some of Britain’s most dangerous criminals but after a decade and a half on the front line of the war on drugs, he began to realise that Britain’s drugs laws were doing far more harm than good. In 2007, he quit the police to become a drug policy reform campaigner.
As Conservative government ministers speak openly about their own drug use, young Black working-class men are disproportionately harassed by police and spend time in jail for minor drug offences. Drug law reform has long been a cause for social justice campaigners.
In this fascinating event hosted by the Greens’ Drugs Policy Working Group, eminent Green politician Cleo Lake speaks with Neil Woods about the social harm caused by the policing of drugs and how the whole system of prohibition jeopardises the core principles of British policing.
Neil explains how drug policy reform should not be an issue that solely appeals to voters on the left of the political spectrum but to all people who care about law and order, security and the protection of children. Whilst speaking on the proviso that cross-party working is essential, Neil held up the Greens’ Drugs Policy as the best of any party in Britain by a “long, long way”.
TAKE ACTION!
1. WATCH this video!
2. READ our Q&A sheet (download below) which will help you to make convincing arguments for drug policy reform at the bus stop, at work and when chatting to your grandparents
3. CHALLENGE journalists and local police forces when they celebrate drug seizures by sharing Neil’s explainer video on social media:
4. FAMILIARISE yourself with our drugs policy: policy.greenparty.org.uk/du
5. JOIN the Green Party and join our Drugs Policy Working Group using these links: https://join.greenparty.org.uk/
6. VOTE Green at local, regional and national elections. Your vote is a strong voice for reform of our harmful drugs laws.
