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Government Open To Drug Testing At Events
Christian Eede , July 10th, 2018 14:14

Home Office has said that it 'would not stand in the way' of plans to introduce drug testing at festivals and clubs

The Home Office has indicated that it would be open to introducing more widespread use of drug testing facilities at festivals and clubs.

The government department told The Independent that it "would not stand in the way" of plans to set up facilities allowing people to test drugs amid increasing calls for such measures to be put into place.

Many are calling for drug testing facilities, such as those set up by drug safety charity The Loop at select UK festivals, to be introduced more widely following drug-related deaths of two people earlier this year at Hampshire's Mutiny festival, while 11 people have died at festivals in the UK due to drug-related issues over the last two years. Higher levels of toxicity in drugs in circulation are being blamed for the increase in deaths.

Policing minister Nick Hurd said the Home Office was not pushing against what he called "local operating decisions", and added that chief constables in Avon, Cumbria, Somerset and Hampshire have all stepped forward and indicated that they want to cooperate with such measures.

In a further boost to those pushing for a new line on drug safety and harm reduction in the UK, the Labour Party recently announced that it would be open to allowing party members to have their say in shaping the party's line on the matter going into a future General Election.