Drug offences
The definitive guidelines on drug offences were issued on 24 January 2012 and came into force on 27 February 2012. These guidelines were superseded in April 2021.
Revisions 2021
Revised sentencing guidelines for drug offences were issued on 27 January 2021 and came into force on 1 April 2021.
The following offences are included in the revised guidelines:
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971:
- section 3 (and Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (section 170(2)) – fraudulent evasion of a prohibition by bringing into or taking out of the UK a controlled drug
- section 4(3) – supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug
- section 5(3) – possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply it to another
- section 4(2)(a) or (b) – production of a controlled drug
- section 6(2) – cultivation of a cannabis plant
- section 8 – permitting premises to be used for drug-related activity
- section 5(2) – possession of a controlled drug
Psychoactive Substances Act 2016:
- section 4 – producing a psychoactive substance
- section 5 – supplying, or offering to supply, a psychoactive substance
- section 7 – possession of a psychoactive substance with intent to supply
- section 8 – importing or exporting a psychoactive substance
- section 9 – possession of a psychoactive substance in a custodial institution
Between 15 January 2020 and 7 May 2020 the Council consulted on revisions to the drug offences guidelines and new draft guidelines covering offences provided for by the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
Consultations
The consultation on the original guidelines for drug offences was open from 28 March 2011 to 20 June 2011. There were 685 responses.
Between 15 January 2020 and 7 May 2020 the Council consulted on revisions to the drug offences guidelines and new draft guidelines covering offences provided for by the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. We received 43 responses.
Related documents
To support the guidelines and consultations, the Council publishes a range of documents. These documents may include consultation responses, statistical bulletins, resource and equality impact assessments and guideline assessments.
Related documents: Drug offences