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Drugs policy report sparks coalition row

A row has erupted at the top of the coalition after a Home Office report on drug abuse re-opened differences between Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the survey - which found the "toughness" of a country's drug enforcement policy did not affect the level of substance abuse - showed the "war on drugs" was failing.

The dispute, which his been festering for months, broke out after the Home Office finally agreed to release the report - which the Lib Dems had originally commissioned - comparing drugs policies in different countries.

Appearing on his weekly LBC radio phone-in, Mr Clegg complained that the Conservatives had tried to block its release.

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Drugs reform report was 'suppressed by Tories'

Lib Dem minister Norman Baker said the report was ready in July. Credit: PA

A Home Office report which concluded tough laws have no impact on drug use was "suppressed" by the Conservatives, Lib Dem minister Norman Baker claims.

Mr Baker said: "The reality is that this report has been sitting around for several months. I’ve been trying to get it out and I’m afraid that I believe that my coalition colleagues who commissioned the report jointly don’t like the independent conclusions it’s reached.

“It was suppressed, not by Theresa May, it was suppressed by the Conservatives and the reality is that it has got some inconvenient truths in it."

The crime prevention minister added continuing the current approach to drugs was no longer tenable.

He called for dissuasion commissions to be looked into, which would divert people arrested over drugs from the criminal system into the health service.

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Drugs policy report sparks coalition row

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