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This report presents the findings of a study of retail drug markets and the local action taken against them in eight deprived residential neighbourhoods in England. The work was undertaken in late 2000/early 2001 and focused mainly on markets for heroin and crack cocaine. The report concludes that it will be difficult to regenerate neighbourhoods without tackling drug markets at the same time.

Title: A rock and a hard place: drug markets in deprived neighbourhoods - Home Office Research Study 240
Authors: Ruth Lupton, Andrew Wilson, Tiggey May, Hamish Warburton and Paul J. Turnbull
Number of pages: 92
Date published: June 2002

Title: Drug markets in deprived neighbourhoods - Home Office Research Findings 167
Authors: Ruth Lupton, Andrew Wilson, Tiggey May, Hamish Warburton and Paul J. Turnbull
Number of pages: 4
Date published: 2002

Key points

• Heroin was widely available at all sites and crack was widely available at most.

• All the markets were described as 'vibrant' and 'busy'. They were classified into two types: central place and local markets, although some markets showed characteristics of both types. Closed markets predominated i.e., for known buyers and sellers.

• Drug markets contributed to damaged community confidence and poor neighbourhood reputation. They hindered regeneration.

Areas for development

• The impact of drug markets in deprived areas is variable, giving rise to the need for local strategies based on local information.

• There should be greater co-ordination of local action within Drug Action Teams and local partnerships, including more effective use of local regeneration opportunities.

• Local enforcement activities, including civil enforcement and the need for better police/community relations, need resourcing.

• Better resourcing is required for local drug treatment services. This should include better targeting of groups (women, crack users, young people and minority ethnic users) which are not served adequately at present.

• Drug education and prevention need to be better integrated with other education initiatives with a clarity of purpose about the aims.

Contents

The report aims to look at neighbourhood drug markets in the context of the new policy agenda for neighbourhood renewal, including the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, New Deal for Communities and neighbourhood management arrangements.

The report recommends that, in New Deal for Communities (NDC) areas, regeneration partnerships should be required to review drug market activity and develop co-ordinated strategies, incorporating enforcement measures, to develop community confidence in addressing the problem, treatment services and education and prevention strategies. DATs have a role to play in supporting the development of such strategies, and in initiating similar strategies in areas without NDC partnerships. They should be made accountable for the development of neighbourhood drugs strategies, and should be adequately resourced to fulfil this function.

It also suggests that there are genuine resource problems hindering effective local action against drug markets. To inform future policy, better knowledge is needed about required resource levels, and the additional return that could be expected from higher levels of investment at local level. The report proposes that pilot sites for the development of local drugs strategies are identified, properly resourced and fully evaluated.

Finally, the report acknowledges that effective action against heroin and crack will not be resolved by interventions only at local level. It requires adequate resourcing at national and international level as well as critical thinking about appropriate and differentiated strategies for dealing with the different challenges of heroin and crack. It reveals a complex and growing problem that requires a concerted and co-ordinated response at all levels.

Getting a copy

Home Office Research Study 240 - A rock and a hard place: drug markets in deprived neighbourhoods PDF 235 Kb

Home Office Research Findings 167 - Drug markets in deprived neighbourhoods PDF 71 Kb