Plans to seize drug users’ passports and driving licences ‘unworkable’

Angela Constance

Angela Constance has called for a meeting with her UK government counterpart to discuss the implications of changes to legislation that could affect Scotland.

The Home Office this year announced plans to strengthen rules on drugs possession with the introduction of a new three-tier system of interventions. The highest tier involves revoking driving licences and passports.

In a report from July, the Home Office said that two of the three tiers – namely the least and most stringent – could apply in Scotland as well as Northern Ireland.

Writing to UK drugs minister Jeremy Quin on Friday, Ms Constance expressed her concerns.

“The paper sets out that some proposals, including the most punitive, may apply in Scotland,” she wrote.

“I received a reply on the August 25 2022 claiming that these measures are a step towards changing the damaging culture of drug use.

“I disagree and, instead, feel that these measures are contradictory to the human rights-based, public health approach that the Scottish government is implementing, and could undermine aspects of our national mission to improve and save lives.

“I have previously outlined that these proposals, in particular, the confiscation of passports or drivers’ licences, raise significant concerns on civil liberties and human rights grounds.”

She said the proposals “may prove unworkable” and wrote: “I must reiterate my opposition to any decision that requires Scotland to implement these measures and would highlight the significant risks inherent in this approach.”

Scotland has the highest drug death rate in Europe.