Ban on stimulant Khat

The Home Secretary has re-affirmed her decision to ban a controversial herbal stimulant, used by members of the Somali and Yemeni communities in Wales.

Theresa May ignored calls from MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee - which said her decision to ban KHAT was "not based on evidence of medical or social harm." Tom Sheldrick reports.

Home Secretary Theresa May says she has not been "persuaded" to change her mind on banning the herbal stimulant khat, despite the calls from the Home Affairs Select Committee for the substance to be licensed rather than banned.

The committee concluded that the Government's decision to control khat was "not based on evidence of medical or social harm." It recommended that a scheme for licencing the importation of khat into the UK be introduced, rather than banning it under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Khat is widely used by Somali and Yemeni communities in Wales, with the Home Secretary's decision dividing opinion.

In her response to the committee, Mrs May said: "I have made clear that the decision to ban khat was finely balance.

"Having reviewed the committee's report, I am not persuaded to reconsider my decision which was made following an extensive consultation process and careful consideration, not least because of the breadth and complexity of the issues associated with khat in the UK and abroad."

Members of the Yemeni community in Wales have joined a campaign against plans by the Home Secretary to ban the herbal stimulant khat.

They claim it does them no harm and is an important cultural tradition.

They invited ITV News to see them chewing khat at a weekend get-together in Cardiff.

A Welsh community has tonight welcomed the Home Secretary's decision to ban the herbal stimulant Khat. Theresa May said she was doing it 'to protect vulnerable members of our communities' and to send a clear message to smugglers.

The Association of Chief Police Officers says it will inform communities about the change in the law over the drug khat and set enforcement policies in communities where the drug is used.

The Home Secretary Theresa May says she has banned the drug Khat for the social affects on communities and families.

The drug is commonly used in Wales by Somali communities.

"Khat continues to feature prominently amongst the health and social harms, such as low attainment and family breakdown, cited by affected communities and the police and local authorities working with them", she said.

"To ensure a proportionate and robust policing response, the government will introduce an escalation framework for the possession of khat for personal use, similar to that in place for cannabis.

"The government will ban khat so that we can protect vulnerable members of our communities and send a clear message to our international partners and khat smugglers that the UK is serious about stopping the illegal trafficking of khat," she added.

A plant that is used by Somali communities as a stimulant is to be banned by the Government despite advice by official drug experts against such a move.

Khat, which makes its users feel more alert, happy and talkative when chewed, is to be criminalised as a Class-C drug amid concerns that the Government risks underestimating its health and social harms, Home Secretary Theresa May said.

There are approximately 10,000 Somalis living in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea making them the largest ethnic minority community in Wales. The community is divided in it's views of khat and many called for the ban.

The move comes after the Government's official adviser, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), concluded khat should not be banned.

Around 2,560 tonnes of khat, which is also favoured by Yemeni and Ethiopian communities, worth #13.8 million was imported to the UK in 2011/12, bringing in #2.8 million of tax revenues.

You can watch Monday's Wales This Week: Chewing the Khat here

Calls to the Home Office for a ban on the legal stimulant threatening the future of a Welsh community.

If you missed tonight's programme catch up here.

Khat is banned around the world, but not in the UK. Now there are fears this herbal stimulant could cause lasting damage to a community in Wales.

Catch the full programme on Wales This Week, Monday at 8pm on ITV Cymru Wales