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The Home Office should lose responsibility for drugs policy, an inquiry has concluded.

The two-year study, by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manu­facturers and Commerce, called for a new regulatory framework on drugs based on harm reduction.

It also recommends incorporating alcohol and tobacco under a new Misuse of Substances Act.

The report urged transferring lead responsibility for drugs policy from the Home Office to the Department for Communities and Local Government, with local area agreements used to join up policies.

Martin Barnes, chief executive of substance misuse charity DrugScope said shifting responsibility to the DCLG had to be matched by "ring-fenced funding and accountability".

Further information
Drugs - Facing Facts