Home Office proposals that could have caused social carers working with
recovering drug addicts to face prosecution for allowing substance misuse at
care homes, have been shelved.
Drugs minister Bob Ainsworth decided not to proceed with the draft guidance
after protests from social care organisations.
It had been hoped that the guidance would strengthen police powers to
prosecute people who run ‘crack houses’, but care agencies feared its vague
wording would leave some carers facing the possibility of 14 years in prison.
The antisocial behaviour bill, to be published in three weeks’ time, will
give police the power to close down crack houses within 48 hours, and seal them
for six months.
It will contain a specific exemption for those who legitimately provide
treatment and housing.
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