Sir, Melanie Reid (August 1) suggests that “the rich are feeding the drug industry” and that the UK Drug Policy Commission (UKDPC) report claims that the police are “not winning the war on drugs”. In fact, we do not say that government and enforcement agencies’ efforts are not working. The review we commissioned simply concludes that the available evidence about their effectiveness is very thin, and big drug hauls have little sustainable impact on street-level availability. Absence of adequate evidence is not the same as saying enforcement is not working, and acknowledging the resilience of drug markets does not detract from the successes of enforcement agencies to generally contain the market. The research also highlights how certain kinds of enforcement, such as street-level policing in collaboration with local partners, can help to reduce the “collateral damage” that drug markets bring in their wake. We are currently working with enforcement agencies to consider how they can maximise their role in reducing drug harms, and will publish our findings in due course.

Regarding the use of conditional cautioning, there is evidence that cautioning and diversion programmes can be effective in reducing re-offending. Also, cautions are an established part of the repertoire of justice sanctions where the offence is less serious. Finally, the issue is not whether one social group is being let off lightly; rather it is that many low-level drug offenders, especially those from impoverished communities, are receiving disproportionate punishments. Community sentences and treatment are surely a more effective and appropriate response to the need for rehabilitation.

Dame Ruth Runciman
Chair, UK Drug Policy Commission

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