The considerable increase in drug and alcohol-related crime has prompted the UK Drugs Policy Commission (UKDPC) to develop a harm-reduction approach to the enforcement of the law on drug and alcohol misuse. The UKDPC’s strategy focuses on reducing the overall harm caused to society from drug and alcohol consumption and debate continues to be necessary in this complex and politically sensitive area.

The Forum considered some of the following questions:

• What are the benefits and implications of ‘harm reduction’?
• What problems are associated with making such a strategy work?
• Could harm-reduction generate public confidence?
• Could harm-reducation be introduced more widely in policing?