PCC wants urgent action to tackle opioid overdoses

Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones is calling for urgent action to increase access to the overdose reversing drug naloxone, to tackle the rising number of deaths from opioid drugs.

Following the government’s announcement earlier this week (Monday) of a 10-week UK-wide consultation on the issue, the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight PCC said there is a worrying increase in access to synthetic opioids.

Donna Jones has been asking the Home Office for action on this issue since last year, saying: “Naloxone saves lives and we must do all we can to help some of the most vulnerable people in our society at their most vulnerable moments.

“Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary were one of the first police forces in the country with some officers carrying naloxone. We are trying to deal with an explosion in the access to and use of synthetic opioids, which is leading to increased numbers of deaths by accidental overdose.

“I supported the move for all police officers to carry naloxone and raised this issue nationally 18 months ago with the Home Secretary. I said that the government needed to push the distribution and use of naloxone by police officers, to save more lives from opioid overdoses.

“Police are often the first to discover someone having an overdose, during routine duties such as a welfare check or patrol. Having naloxone readily available to these officers would enable prompt action and provide a better chance of saving a life.

“I will continue to lobby the government on this issue to ensure wide availability of naloxone in a variety of settings, including police officers, across our two counties.”

There are currently 32 UK Police Forces with some provision of naloxone, including Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. The ongoing provision means that some police officers or staff are carrying naloxone during their duties on a permanent basis.

As of December 2024, across England and Wales, there were approximately 6,800 police officers and 880 police staff carrying naloxone day-to-day; naloxone was also available in 950 police vehicles.

There have been 554 administrations of naloxone in England and Wales by the police from June 2019 to 30 December 2024.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary ran a pilot scheme almost three years ago, training some volunteers from Neighbourhood Policing Teams and those in Armed Response Vehicles. This training gave them the ability to administer the drug and potentially save lives.

The pilot was operated with support from South Central Ambulance Service, Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council, The Society of St James and Change, Grown, Live.

The Constabulary’s Clinical Governance Board oversees the use of naloxone by officers and staff, with each usage assessed and audited by the Force Clinical Governor.

Naloxone temporarily reverses the effects of opioid drugs such as heroin, methadone, fentanyl, oxycodone, buprenorphine or morphine. The medicine is administered via the nostril.

Donna Jones also hopes to secure improved criminal justice pathways for drug users and has already introduced a system of Drug Testing on Arrest.

Launched in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in Oct 2022, Drug Testing on Arrest applies when someone is detained for a trigger offence.  It seeks to identify individuals who misuse specified Class A drugs and commit crime to fund their habit.  It helps ensure people are steered out of crime and into treatment pathways at the earliest opportunity.