FOI request (FOIR-137123853)

To whom it may concern,

I am the Policy & Research Lead Release, the national centre of expertise on drugs and drugs law, providing free and confidential specialist advice to the public and professionals.

I submit this request for specific information regarding drug-related evictions from council housing in your local authority area. This information is sought under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA 2000).

1.       Of the total number of local authority evictions made in 2017/18, how many of the grounds for possession were drug-related? Please note that drug-related grounds for possession includes, but is not limited to, the following:

·         Serious drug offences (as defined in Schedule 3 to the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014) i.e. production and supply of controlled drugs, possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply, occupiers of premises permitting unlawful production / supply of controlled drugs or opium / cannabis smoking to take place on the premises, cultivation of cannabis plant for financial gain; or

·         Breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order (sections 94 and 97 Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014) e.g. requirement to attend a drug awareness course or to engage in drug treatment, prohibition from using the internet for drug dealing activity; or

·         Breach of a tenancy agreement related to drugs e.g. for possession / use of controlled drugs / psychoactive substances on the premises, “illegal or immoral use of the property”.

2.       Please provide a copy of internal documents (e.g. policies, procedures, protocols, memos, template contracts, correspondence) held by the local authority pertaining to evictions from council housing, which specifically refer to drugs (i.e. controlled drugs or psychoactive substances).

I am confident the questions above should not place a burden on public resources or violate the cost restrictions set out in s. 12 FOIA 2000 and the s.3 of the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004, as the information requested relates to data gathered for the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government ‘local authority housing statistics’ dataset. For the purpose of clarity, I would like to request that any information exempt from disclosure under s.40 FOIA 2000 is shared in a redacted or anonymised format.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me via email. I look forward to your written reply, within 20 business days by the Wednesday 11th September 2019 at the latest, as specified by section 10 of the FOIA 2000.