Grieve attacks Labour for sending "mixed messages" on drugs

Dominic Grieve warned the Government is sending out “mixed messages” on drug abuse following the publication of new statistics from the Ministry of Justice.

The latest sentencing data shows that the number of people sentenced for drug offences has increased by 13.2 per cent but the number given custodial sentences had actually fallen.

Dominic, the Shadow Justice Secretary, said, “The surge in drug offenders reveals the stark reality of the Government’s failure to get a grip with this serious social problem.”

And he attacked the Government for letting two-thirds of violent offenders off with “a slap on the wrist”:

“Drug- and drink-fuelled violence blights our communities. But this Government has sent out mixed messages on drugs and binge-drinking, whilst failing to build the prisons to ensure violent offenders are properly punished.”