New strategy to tackle drug supply and substance use in Tower Hamlets

Today (Tuesday 15 October) Tower Hamlets Council launched a new substance misuse strategy developed by its Combatting Drug Partnership which brings together key partners to tackle substance misuse and drug supply in the borough.

Working alongside local police, health services, the community and voluntary sector, and faith organisations, the new strategy has three local priorities each set against the three national pillars that all Combating Drugs Partnerships are tasked with delivering:

• Break drug supply chains 
• Deliver a world-class treatment and recovery system 
• Achieve a generational shift in the demand for drugs

Tower Hamlets has the highest number of people in treatment for drug use across London, with 2,289 in 2024-25, and 52 per cent of those in treatment using opiates, also the highest in London. Additional challenges include a growing proportion of those in treatment aged 50 plus, a cohort which will only face more complex health issues and worse outcomes from substance misuse, and related issues, as time goes on.   

To address these serious issues, the strategy includes:

• Redesigning treatment services to ensure they are culturally competent and meet the needs of local communities 
• A dedicated council enforcement unit to disrupt drug supply and substance misuse 
• New tools and materials to better support and educate young people 
• New covert and overt law enforcement operations with the Met Police to target drugs addresses, drug lines and the sale and supply of drugs 
• Delivery of religious led awareness events for affected communities

A critical part of the new approach is ensuring community views are central to the Combating Drugs Partnership. A needs assessment was undertaken to look at the communities and places most affected by substance misuse and identify gaps. From this, a range of stakeholders including professionals, services users, residents and community members came together to shape priorities to ensure the strategy will drive action and have the greatest impact. 

The Combatting Drugs Partnership will oversee the outcomes of this strategy by measuring drug-related crime, as well as reduction in demand through early intervention and education, and by ensuring there are effective treatment, rehabilitation and recovery programmes across the borough.

Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: “Our new substance misuse strategy will support continued work to effectively tackle drug supply and addiction in Tower Hamlets. By bringing together key partners from across the borough we’re taking a shared approach and commitment to change.

“Tackling substance misuse is a top priority for us and this strategy is a major step towards disrupting drug supply and use and making Tower Hamlets safer for all.”

Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: “Together we are combining the strengths and ambitions of our local authority, police, health services, and community partners to tackle drug-related crime, reduce demand through early intervention and education, and ensure we have effective treatment, rehabilitation and recovery programmes across the borough.

“Drugs plague our community in so many ways so I’m proud to be working alongside our partners and community leaders on a shared approach and commitment to change.”

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, BCU Commander for Central East, said: “We are committed to playing our part in tackling substance misuse and drug supply across Tower Hamlets. The drugs market is a core driver of organised crime, the exploitation of children, and violence which impacts across our communities.  

“We have strong track record of disrupting and suppressing the organised crime groups dealing drugs across the borough. However, we will only be effective if we can work together with wider partners to reduce the risk of vulnerable adults and children being exploited and do so in coordination with a public health approach to reduce substance misuse and dependency. This layered approach lies at the heart of this strategy.”