A government-commissioned report in the UK has found that efforts to crack down on drug activity through law enforcement are more likely to drive up violence rather than decrease it. While it’s unclear whether this will push the government to change course on drug policy, the findings are significant.
According to the report, existing evidence shows that drug-related policing does little to cut violence. In fact, many studies show the opposite—that such enforcement efforts often make things worse. The research also revisits earlier work on the topic, which concluded that stepping up police pressure on drug markets usually fails to curb violence and might increase it.
The report advises law enforcement agencies in the UK to weigh the potential for violence before launching operations focused on drugs, especially when these actions involve arresting key figures in drug networks or seizing large amounts of substances. These actions, while intended to disrupt illegal trade, often create instability and spark turf wars among criminal groups.
According to Transform Drug Policy Foundation senior analyst Steve Rolles, the unintended consequences of drug enforcement have been evident for years. He contends that the “war on drugs” has exacerbated the ongoing conflict between criminal organizations and law enforcement, making it possible for only the most vicious gangs to endure.
Rolles sees the report as an important moment, mainly because it comes from the Home Office. The office is responsible for issues such as policing and national security.
Many former law enforcement officers have also spoken out over the years about how drug enforcement can increase street violence. They point out that when established hierarchies in the drug trade are disrupted—through arrests or seizures—power vacuums form, sparking violent competition among rival groups.
Neil Woods, once an undercover cop, is now a leading advocate for changing drug laws. He chairs the Law Enforcement Action Partnership UK and argues that traditional drug policing doesn’t shrink the drug market. Instead, it often makes things more dangerous. He believes the findings of the report should influence government policy as public safety is at stake.
Woods also notes that cracking down on drug suppliers can increase overdose risks. A 2023 study published in the American Journal of Public Health showed that when a person’s dealer is arrested, they may turn to unfamiliar sources, increasing the chance of encountering contaminated or more potent drugs.
These findings are unlikely to surprise licensed marijuana companies like TerrAscend Corp. (TSX: TSND) (OTCQX: TSNDF) given that they have always believed that marijuana policy reform is a more sustainable way to reduce drug-related violence in different jurisdictions.
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