Workof commission not finished, says Peat

THE inquiry created to address Dundee’s drug death epidemic is “still needed” even now that it has published its landmark report, accord i ng to its chairman.

Dr Robert Peat, former social work boss at Angus Council and chair of the Dundee Drugs Commission, says it is likely the group will meet for at least the next year to review how progress is being made on its 18 recommendations.

The commission was created by the Dundee Partnership – the joint forum where bodies such as Dundee City Council, NHS Tayside, Police Scotland and the city’s universities come together to find solutions to local problems.

However, the commission has been independent of the council and other bodies since its creation – and its tough-but-fair conclusions have led to it being hailed as a “critical friend” by those with experience of drugs.

Its final report – calling for drug issues to be tackled with “kindness, compassion and hope” was published in August.

However, Dr Peat says the work of the commission isn’t finished – and won’t be finished for quite some time.

Dr Peat said: “We still need to be here. We heard really positive statements today but we have heard this in the past.

“I’m not questioning the commitment (of the Dundee Partnership) – we want to be there as a resource and to actually bring them back to the recommendations.

“Our message to the partnership is that your collective leadership must show the determination to stick with what will be a difficult task in the months and years ahead.

“I anticipate initially doing this for a year, maybe reconvening for the next year and maybe a year on reconvening to see what has been met.

“Commissioners are coming from across the country to help with this so the partnership should take us up on this offer.”

Dr Robert Peat