Drugs Act 2005

Drugs Act 2005[a]
Act of Parliament
coat of arms
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to make provision in connection with controlled drugs and for the making of orders to supplement anti-social behaviour orders in cases where behaviour is affected by drug misuse or other prescribed factors.
Citation2005 c. 17
Territorial extent England and Wales, except that so far as it amends or repeals any enactment, this Act has the same extent as the enactment amended or repealed.[b]
Dates
Royal assent7 April 2005
Commencementvarious[c]
Other legislation
Amends
Amended by
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Text of the Drugs Act 2005 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Drugs Act 2005[a] (c. 17) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom relating to drugs offences.

Provisions

Under the Act, people caught with a certain quantity of drugs are automatically presumed to be supplying, rather than the lesser charge of possession.[1]

The Act allows first-time offenders testing positive for drugs to be obliged to attend a mandatory drug assessment specialist workers and receive help into treatment even if not charged.[2][3]

Under the Act, all adults arrested for 'trigger' crimes, including robbery, burglary and prostitution, which could have been committed to buy drugs, are to be tested for narcotics.[4]

Those who test positive for a Class A drug may be required to take part in an assessment and also a follow-up assessment.[5]

Section 24 - Short title, commencement and extent

The following orders have been made under section 24(3):

  • The Drugs Act 2005 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1650 (C. 68))[6]
  • The Drugs Act 2005 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2223 (C. 93))[7]
  • The Drugs Act 2005 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3053 (C. 128))[8]
  • The Drugs Act 2005 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2136 (C. 71))[9]
  • The Drugs Act 2005 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2007] (S.I. 2007/562 (C. 23))[10]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Section 24(1).
  2. ↑ Section 24(6)–(7).
  3. ↑ Section 24(2)–(4).

References

  1. ↑ Wilkins, Lucy (14 October 2005). "Line between possession and supply". BBC News. Retrieved 30 August 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ↑ "Compulsory tests for drug misusing offenders". Community Care. 30 November 2005. Retrieved 31 August 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ↑ "Sergeant spearheads instant drug testing". Manchester Evening News. 18 January 2013 [2013-01-12]. Retrieved 31 August 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ↑ "Police chief calls for debate over drugs legalisation". Oxford Mail. 25 February 2006. Retrieved 31 August 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ↑ Edwards, Anthony (3 August 2007). "Criminal law". Law Society Gazette. Archived from the original on 31 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  6. ↑ Digitised copy
  7. ↑ Digitised copy
  8. ↑ Digitised copy
  9. ↑ Digitised copy
  10. ↑ Digitised copy
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