Responding to comments from the Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime that the UK “is fast becoming the biggest consumer of cocaine in Europe”, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Judith Jolly said:

“The war on drugs has failed. With expectations on our police officers ever increasing, we should be supporting them by reducing the demand for drugs, which in turn will reduce criminality.

“Instead of the same old archaic approach from the Tories, which has been ineffective in driving down drug use, we need a government that will adopt a comprehensive new approach to tackling drugs. We need an approach that is backed up with proper medical and scientific evidence.

“That is why the Liberal Democrats would adopt a health-based approach to tackling drug use – diverting those arrested for possession of drugs for personal use into treatment and education, or imposing civil penalties.”