Tory minister accuses SNP of ignoring drugs crackdown in England

A Tory minister has criticised efforts to cut Scotland’s “eye-watering” drugs death toll as he urged the SNP to sign up to a UK Government crackdown.

Policing Minister Kit Malthouse said he has been left “frustrated” and “mystified” by the Holyrood government’s refusal to back Project Adder.

The £59 million pilot scheme involves greater coordination between agencies as police target dealers while local authorities and health services focus on addressing addictions.

It was launched in January 2021 and was named “Adder” because it focuses on addiction, diversion, disruption, enforcement and recovery.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Malthouse urged Scotland’s Drug Policy Minister Angela Constance to join the initiative.

However, the Scottish Government suggested the scheme was too focused on “ineffective” police crackdowns.

The number of drug deaths in Scotland has been declared a public health emergency, with recent rates recorded at some three-and-a-half times the figure for the UK as a whole, and also higher than any other European country.

Speaking ahead of a drug policy summit in

London this week, Mr Malthouse highlighted the “tragic and eyewatering” toll of drug deaths north of the border, as he urged the SNP-Green government to sign up to Project Adder.

He said: “I really don’t understand why they won’t just give it a try.

“The key ingredients which they need to put together are there. That is why it is so frustrating that they won’t even contemplate Adder, having seen its success.”

The Conservative minister added: “I don’t know what the resistance is.

“We have a duty to all of our citizens to learn from good ideas, wherever they come from.

“We think we have a formula that works, that has shown really good signs in some of the hotspots in England.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Project Adder’s focus remains enforcement-led and there is much evidence which highlights the harm and ineffective nature of crackdowns.

“To transform lives we are utilising serious and sustained investment, expanding residential rehabilitation services, embedding treatment service standards and increasing the number of people in treatment and recovery in every area in Scotland.”