MPS call for increased testing of drugs at festivals to cut deaths

Ministers should expand anonymous drug testing at festivals and allow supervised drug-taking facilities to reduce the risk of fatal overdoses and infections, an influential parliamentary committee has concluded.

- Rajeev Syal

In a report which urges the government to focus on "public health" rather than "an abstinence-only approach", the Home Affairs select committee has called for a national drug-checking service to anonymously test controlled drugs and a licensing scheme for onsite drug testing facilities at festivals.

MPs on the cross-party body have also asked for legal clarity on "safe spaces" where regular users can take substances in safe surroundings and for the government to draw up laws to allow their expansion.

The report comes as the Scottish government presses for a so-called safe consumption facility to be set up, but its efforts have been blocked by Westminster.

It also follows criticisms of the Home Office from artists including Fatboy Slim for in effect blocking the testing of drugs bought by festivalgoers during the summer.

Diana Johnson, the committee's chair, said the government's drug strategy required much more meaningful action to tackle the broad range of drug-related problems.

"We need to have the right interventions in place to help people break free from the terrible cycles of addiction and criminality that drug addiction can cause," she said. "Simply attempting to remove drugs from people's lives hasn't worked.