In October 2018, the 4th Law Enforcement and HIV Network (LEAHN) Consultation was held in Toronto in conjunction with the International Law Enforcement & Public Health Conference.
The Consultation built on the success of previous meetings in Melbourne (2012) and Amsterdam (2014, 2016). See photos from previous consultations here: LEAHN Consultation photo/slides.
The theme was ‘The police role in changing drug policy environments’.
The objectives of the consultation were:
- Review LEAHN guidance on police and harm reduction developed since 2012 and identify options for consolidation and dissemination.
- Endorse LEAHN guidelines on police and drug consumption rooms.
- Review proposed submission on police support for drug policy reform at the 2019 session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
- Consult law enforcement and other stakeholders regarding Youth RISE guidelines as part of a co-creation process for a Youth RISE Law Enforcement and Young People Who Use Drugs (YPUD) publication.
- Advance understanding of role and impact of police discretion in the enforcement of drug laws.
Participants from across several continents joined together to share their experiences and knowledge from a personal and/or professional perspective with representatives from police, health, drug user representatives, academia and civil society.
The 5th Law Enforcement & HIV Network Consultation will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland in October 2019.
