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Chapter 4: Reducing supply of psychostimulants
66. Given the remit of the Group, this report has rightly focused on the scale of the psychostimulant problem in Scotland and how services could be redesigned to meet needs. However, action on the demand/harm side should also be supported by to action to disrupt supply.
67. The main area of focus for any successful strategy to reduce the supply of psychostimulants must be the supply of cocaine and the chemicals that are used either as bulking agents or in any manufacture process. Law enforcement has a continuing role to play at a local, national and international level.
Local level
68. At a local level, the availability of psychostimulants, as with other drugs can be a barrier to regeneration and renewal within communities. It is assumed that the Police will continue to maintain visible action against those dealing drugs and ensure all steps are taken to recover criminals' funds where they have been illegally obtained.
69. Given that psychostimulants have strong links to pubs and clubs it is recommended that the Police and other services engaged in this area of work should work with Licensing Boards and Licensees to reduce the availability and harms within licensed premises. It is recommended that Licensing Boards recognise the local issues and use their powers accordingly to play their part in reducing the problem. It is also recommended that each Licensing Board through their membership on the local Alcohol and Drug Action Team inform any local needs assessments of issues relating to the premises in their area and seek to act upon it.
70. It is also recommended that local Police work closely with local service providers to ensure that when drug raids occur that drug treatment services are available for those with who will no longer be able to purchase illegal drugs.
National level
71. It is assumed that the Police will continue to engage with partners at a national and international level to identify and target those who seek to find routes to take drugs into Scotland. The Group welcome the Government's commitment to work with the Scottish Police Agency to gain a clearer picture of the scale and extent of serious organised crime, including drug trafficking in Scotland.
Global level
72. Enforcement is a global problem and on a global scale it has been shown to work in a positive and sustainable way. There is clear evidence to show that enforcement activity at an international level has impacted on cocaine at source and through trafficking routes. There has been eradication of production areas and displacement of routes. However, in South America yields have gone up in certain areas and the displacement from the Caribbean has moved towards Africa and into Europe. We are seeing a growing number of cases involving direct importation into Scotland including the use of couriers by air. Enforcement efforts should be innovative, flexible and sustained and the Police should continue to work across borders.
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