Stop and Search

In this breaking news, emergency broadcast, special podcast, we'll be discussing the bold new moves by the Scottish government to reform their drug policies.

We speak to retired Police Inspector Ian Andrew, and former Detective and author of The Ten Percent, Simon McLean - both of whom are LEAP UK and LEAP Scotland members. Both Ian and Simon have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help these new proposals come about.

So, what are we talking about here? Well, a new report recommends that Scotland decriminalises all drug possession, as well as safe consumption rooms, diamorphine assisted treatment, and drug checking services. This is also a step towards a conversation around legal regulation of all drugs.

Hear from inside the circle, how this came about, how it's shaping up and crucially... how will the Westminster government react?

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Louise Marwood is an actress and comedian - you may recognise her from the British soap opera Emmerdale. In recent weeks Louise has bravely spoken out via the media about her own struggles with addiction, using her platform to help build the discussion around addiction and stigma... but Louise is now embarking on a new project!

With her background in the arts and comedy, Louise will be putting on a one woman show titled: Rita Lynn: The Life Coach Who Wanted to Die - part autobiographical, part comedy, part drama, this stage production looks to start a deeper conversation around what it's like to be at "rock bottom". In this podcast episode we discuss this exciting new venture as well as some very personal insights from Louise's own life, and we also discuss the much-needed nuance around 'recovery' and what that actually means.

At the time of broadcast of this podcast episode Louise is crowdfunding the stage show - please do support her with whatever you can via the Go Fund Me page. All kind donations go towards making the show bigger and better, and with a chance to tour!

And tickets are already on sale! You can get tickets via the Rosemary Branch Theatre.

Please do support and listen to Louise's words in this podcast - and share share share if you can! Let's have this big conversation around addiction and kick the stigma right out.

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A journalist, newspaper editor, radio presenter, author, Stig Abell has just about done it all in the world of media and journalism. In his book, How Britain Really Works, Stig writes about the many institutions of the UK and how policy making is not always what it's cut out to be. Having done a lot of work in prisons and the justice system, Stig has seen firsthand how we may want to make some changes to the way we currently work.

Stig currently co-presents the Monday to Thursday breakfast show on Times Radio and has a new fiction book out called Death Under a Little Sky. In this podcast episode we cover a lot of ground, from Westminster, to prisons, from Fleet Street and the responsibility of journalists, to the way in which politics and the media crossover. And of course, drug policy.

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Having served as the chief judge of the Newark Municipal Court, Judge Victoria Pratt is also professor at the Rutgers Newark School of Criminal Justice. Judge Pratt has a written a book called The Power of Dignity: Transforming Criminal Justice which delves into her work in and out of the courtroom. Having looked for alternatives to the criminal justice system for many years, Judge Pratt is an advocate of community solutions and going deeper than your average courtroom. Her TED talk, "How Judges Can Show Respect," has been viewed over thirty million times and is well worth a watch.

In this podcast episode we speak about the many ways in which the justice system needs to change and how judges and police officers need a tangible link to their communities in order to understand the people in which they deal with. We also speak about the many pipelines to prison, and how people from BAME backgrounds are inherently at a disadvantage in the justice system... and of course addiction, we must speak about addiction.

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Shelby Hartman is the co-founder and CEO of the innovative publication Double Blind Magazine. Having written for numerous publications such as Vice, Huffington Post, Rolling Stone, Shelby and her partner Madison are now shaping how we view the emerging and exciting world of psychedelics via Double Blind Magazine.

In this episode we talk about a the need for quality drug journalism, how the UK can learn from the US with the emerging psychedelic treatments around PTSD and trauma, what can the lessons of cannabis regulation teach us, and so much more!

Find Shelby on twitter: @shelbyannehart

And find Double Blind Magazine on your social media platforms, as well as the website: https://doubleblindmag.com

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Let's chat with TV presenter, broadcaster, and podcast legend, Tim Lovejoy.

Tim has had an interesting journey with drug policy... like many, Tim believed in our drug laws, he had no need to investigate further. But after hosting a number of people on his own podcast, The Lovejoy Hour, such as Peter Bleksley, Neil Woods, Johann Hari, and our own Stop and Search host Jason Reed, Tim has had a complete transformation in his thinking and is now a big advocate from drug policy reform - he does all he can to help spread the message.

In this episode of Stop and Search we talk about the role the media play in drug policy, as well as press 'scandals'. We also delve into mental health, addiction, and what more we can all do to help raise awareness to this big issue.

Don't forget to like, share, subscribe and nice review wherever you can.

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He's a mental health advocate, author, criminal justice reform advocate, chart-topping podcaster, and of course the director of communications under Tony Blair's term as Prime Minister - Alastair Campbell barely needs an introduction.

In this episode we go further with Alastair than he's ever gone before in giving his thoughts on failed drug policy and how the 'war on drugs' has caused harm across society. With Alastair's own personal tales of addiction, alongside his advocacy for mental health and criminal justice reform, Alastair is able to give a multifaceted perspective as to why he now looks at drug policy with different eyes.

We also quiz Alastair on the influence and power of communications - how could we not?! There's a lot to unpick in the episode, such as drinking and drug use in Westminster, the story behind Labour's reclassification of cannabis, Norway's pioneering justice reforms, and so much more.

Please subscribe, like, leave nice reviews, and all that lovely stuff. You know what to do, thank you!

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What is it really like being a county lines drug dealer? Danielle Marin was at the forefront of the drug distribution evolution and became a drug dealer at an early age. The book Top Girl is a must-read!

Danielle witnessed some of the very worst aspects of society and yet she has one of the calmest and most sensible demeanours imaginable. On this episode Danielle tells us in her own words what led her to become a dealer, what the life was like, and yes, she discusses some of the worst aspects of the past and abuses. Please do be advised that some incredibly hard subjects are spoken about in this conversation. We give such gratitude to Danielle for her candour and allowing us an unprecedented insight into her incredible life.

We're also joined by writer Robin Eveleigh who is the ghost writer of Top Girl. Robin is a regular contributor to Vice, as well as a host of other publications. How did Robin find the process? How did he cope hearing Danielle's most horrific tales of abuse and trauma?

Please do listen and share this episode, and once more... thank you very much Danielle!

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Richard Mylan is an actor from film, stage and television, as well as a theatre producer, director and a drama teacher. His career has been diverse and littered with big roles such as Waterloo Road. But recently Richard has devoted more of his time to speak about his personal journey with addiction in hopes that he can raise awareness for other people who may be struggling, and to wipe away the stigma that can often come with addiction.

In this special episode we have a very intimate conversation with Richard about his heroin use which lasted twenty years - how and why he got to that place of addiction, and his advocacy for a change of attitudes.

We send such gratitude to Richard for his openness and honesty. Conversations such as this go a long way in helping others, as well as helping make the societal changes that we need to save lives.

Find Richard via his website: https://www.richardmylan.com/

And Twitter: @RichardMylan

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We talk to Stanley Nelson, director of the new Netflix documentary Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy. What really happened in the 80s and the crack epidemic?

Taking an in-depth look at the societal costs, how communities reacted, and how the media played their part, this eye-opening documentary is described as “a puzzle” by Stanley who tried to piece together the many overlaps of the crack picture. From the media term of ‘crack babies’, to addiction, poverty, the militarization of the police, and also there’s a large international element too with the Ronald Reagan presidency having a part to play in Nicaragua… and this is where it really gets interesting! 

Stanley Nelson set about trying to tell this massive story and his film and he does so with the help of many contributors, including Dr Carl Hart who you might know from previous episodes of the Stop and Search podcast. Have a listen to this podcast and then watch the film, it’s truly a must-see! 

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