Stop and Search

Dr Carl Hart has almost become a legendary figure in the world of academia and the media, he’s a professor of neuroscience and psychology at Columbia University and known for his work in drugs and addiction. His first book High Price: A Neuroscientist's Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society was very well received and challenged many misconceptions around society’s perception of drugs and culture, and his new book is set to go even further…

Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear is truly an enthralling read. Dr Hart wants us all to come out of the closet with regards to our drug consumption, he's also coming forward with unapologetic honesty about his own drug use and what it means to him and his life. So, what do we, adults, need to know about the drugs we consume, and what do we need to do to help push this big conversation forward? 

Yes, this really is a fascinating and honest discussion! 

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Norman Pilcher has gone down in history as the muse behind the song I Am the Walrus by The Beatles. When serving in the newly formed drugs squad, Norman arrested John Lennon, George Harrison, The Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, and many other iconic figures from the 60s. He was one of the first and most infamous foot soldiers in the newly formed 'war on drugs' which began in the late 60s, but what does Norman now think as he looks back over his astounding career in the police service? His new book Bent Coppers is a tell-all about his time in the service and the many good - and bad - coppers that he served with. Norman has also spent time in prison himself which has given him some valuable insights.

In this very, very interesting conversation - we of course discuss Norman's career in the police and the drugs squad, but we absolutely have to talk about the iconic celebrities that he was tasked with arresting, but we also discuss the theme of the book, 'Bent Coppers' and why was Norman so compelled to write this book. And to conclude... what does Norman think about drug policy now?

You can buy limited edition signed copies of Bent Coppers by Norman Pilcher by making enquires at: [email protected] - and regular copies are available at all good retailers.

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The new film County Lines is set for release on December 4th, it is a comprehensive dramatisation of what goes on in the county lines drug chain, but the film is also about so much more...

Henry Blake is the writer and director of this new film but his background is in youth work - Henry conveys why he was compelled to make this film. We talk about what Henry saw in his work, how the film is a big snapshot on his time spent working with the vulnerable, and why the county lines drugs network makes some degree of sense to the children who fall into them.

We also have to address how politics and society have both played a hand in ensuring the practice of county lines is here to stay until we tackle inequality in our communities.

You can see County Lines by visiting the BFI Player or Curzon Home Cinema from December 4th. And you can follow Henry Blake on Twitter @HenryBlake26 - and the film can be followed @CountyLinesFilm

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Leroy Logan MBE climbed the police ranks to become a Superintendent and along the way he encountered institutional racism, abuse, and erroneous accusations and investigations. Leroy has released a new book titled Closing Ranks: My Life as a Cop... so how did he get into the police service? Well, that in itself is a fascinating story.

Leroy's life is set to be dramatised by director Steve McQueen and the role of Leroy will be played by John Boyega, so make sure you look out for that!

In this episode we talk about racism, communities, stop and search powers, black lives matter, the 'defund the police' movement, and so much more! As mentioned at the start of this episode, Leroy's life and career mimics society and all the themes that we are faced with today, so this is a podcast not to be missed.

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With over 25 years of experience in criminal law, Chris Daw QC is a barrister who's seen it all. Murder, heists, the apex of international financial crime, and of course drug barons. He's defended many, many people. What drove him to seek answers? What alternatives did he find? And why should we abolish the prison system as we know it... and reform our drug laws?

In his new book, Justice on Trial: Radical Solutions for a System at Breaking Point, Chris decided to tour the globe, looking for answers and alternatives to our current approach to the criminal justice system.

As said, Chris has seen it all - quite literally - and he's got quite a few tales to tell! What works? What fails? And what expense and harm are there for individuals and society alike? How can we make sure less people go to prison, and for less people to go back to prison after their release?

This is a truly fascinating discussion. The book is available as from now!

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Donick Cary has had an incredible career. He's been a writer and producer on legendary shows such as The Simpsons, Parks and Recreation, New Girl, and many more. During his career he's met and spoken with many public figures about their personal journeys with psychedelics, so... he decided to turn this into a film!

On Netflix you can watch the feature documentary Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics. See huge stars such as Sting, the late and great Carrie Fisher, Sarah Silverman, Ben Stiller, and many others as they get very personal in recounting their trips with LSD, MDMA and ayahuasca.

We speak to Donick about the behind the scenes and what it took to make the film. How did he get so many public figures to open up about their drug experiences? Which celebs are the ones that we can label 'the ones that got away'? And from concept to screen, what was the personal journey like in making this documentary?

We also get a personal tour of Donick's unique memorabilia! So if you listen via the Acast app, be sure to check out the visuals on this episode too.

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Ash Sarkar is the Senior Editor at Novara Media and also teaches at the Sandberg Institute. Ash is a regular commentator on Newsnight, BBC Question Time and most news sites. In this very enlightening conversation Ash joins us to talk about the divisive nature of our drug laws and the impact on society - especially when it comes to BAME communities. You can follow Ash on twitter.

This episode was recorded in late 2019, but the themes of the conversation could not be more relevant...

Let's discuss stop and search powers and their insidious legacy. We have to talk about race relations to the police, media and government. And what can we do to make sure that communities who have been harmed by the war on drugs get a stake in the new legal industries for cannabis? Are politicians hypocritical on drug use?

We also have to thank Release for the use of their offices to record this very important episode.

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What's it like to literally talk someone down from a ledge? How do you cope with being a witness to the most extreme examples of domestic violence, terrorism, and murder? John Sutherland explains...

Having served on the frontlines of policing, from PC level, all the way to Chief Superintendent, John has seen the best and worst of society. He's been a negotiator, charged with communicating with the most venerable and the most violent in society. He's been the first on the scene when terror incidents take place, and he's seen the evolution of the drug trade and its new tactics.

We discuss his new book, Crossing the Line: Lessons From a Life on Duty, and wow, there's a lot to chat about!

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We're going to lift the curtain and go behind the scenes of drug law reform. Let's have some honesty about what it's really like working on the front-lines of this global issue! Joining us to give their valuable and candid insight:

Sanho Tree - Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, and Director of its Drug Policy Project since 1998, Sanho is former military and diplomatic historian and has been described as the 'end of level boss' of drug policy.

Niamh Eastwood - Executive Director of the UK based charity Release, Niamh has worked in legal services and has spent nearly 20 years in drug policy reform.

Steve Rolles - Working as the Lead Policy Analyst at Transform Drug Policy Foundation, Steve has been involved in drug policy since 1998, having previously worked for the Medical Research Council and Oxfam.

So... what's gone on in the last few years? Have we progressed in this big debate? Have we learned anything about the presentation of the issue, and how to win hearts and minds? And what challenges currently face us, and what awaits us? This is a no holds barred look at the world of drug policy reform.

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