Commissioner calls on Government to reclassify Ketamine as Class A

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has called on Government to look again at the reclassification of Ketamine to a Class A drug, to protect young people and ensure offenders feel the full force of the law.

Commissioner Clive Grunshaw made his call on the reclassification of Ketamine following the launch of Operation Shore, Lancashire’s response to the supply and misuse of Ketamine, building on a successful campaign in the east of the county.

It delivers a whole-system approach bringing together prevention, engagement and enforcement to prevent addiction, encourage treatment and support, whilst going after the dealers and gangs that make life a misery for vulnerable people.

He has written to the Policing Minister outlining his views, including evidence of increasing health and safeguarding risks linked to ketamine use, the operational picture, and the importance of ensuring national policy keeps pace with the harms being seen in communities.

Earlier this year the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) recommended that ketamine and all similar substances should remain Class B, which was not a unanimous decision but the majority recommendation from both the ACMD and the Ketamine Working Group.

A key reasoning was to ensure people can feel more able to come forward for support, but both policing and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners has been calling for reclassification to ensure those in organised crime gangs, supplying the drug to those most vulnerable, feel the full force of the law and are off the streets for longer.

Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire said:

“Ketamine destroys lives and damages futures and the heart of Operation Shore, our county-wide response to this epidemic, is prevention and support for those who may be using ketamine to seek help and prevent others following the same path.

“By going after the criminal gangs responsible for putting this dangerous drug into Lancashire communities at full force we are also breaking the chains that lead to addiction.

“By reclassifying Ketamine as Class A we would send a clear message about the severity of its use and the impact it has, put organised crime gangs in behind bars for longer, and protect the public, whilst working to ensure those who require treatment and support feel confident to come forward.

“This balance between enforcement, prevention and education is at the heart of my Police and Crime Plan, and I will continue to work across policing, health, local authorities and community organisations to tackle this issue head on and make Lancashire safer.”