UN: Drugs gangs creating ‘no-go’ areas in UK cities

President of the UN’s International Narcotics Control Board, Professor Hamid Ghodse, said there is a “vicious cycle of social exclusion and drugs problems” in these cities.

He warned that the development of these so-called “no-go” sections within cities is being fuelled by issues like social inequality, migration and celebrities normalising drug abuse.

He said: “We are looking at social cohesion, the social disintegration and illegal drugs. In many societies around the world, whether developed or developing, there are communities within the societies which develop which become no-go areas.

“Drug traffickers, organised crime, drug users, they take over. They will get the sort of governance of those areas. Examples are in Brazil, Mexico, in the United States, in the UK, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, and therefore it is no good to have only law enforcement, which always shows it does not succeed.”

‘Limited opportunities’

Profesor Ghodse has called for such communities to be offered drug abuse prevention programmes, treatment and rehabilitation services.

A report released on 28 February by the INCB said: “Faced with a future with limited opportunities, individuals within these communities may increasingly become disengaged from the wider society and become involved in a range of personally and socially harmful behaviours, including drug abuse and drug dealing.”

Drug traffickers, organised crime, drug users, they take over Professor Hamid Ghodse, International Narcotics Control Board

A Home Office spokesman said: “The Ending Gang and Youth Violence report published by the Government in 2011 sets out a comprehensive strategy for supporting local areas to reduce the effects of gang violence.

“We want to stop young people from joining gangs in the first place through intervention and support to children and families at risk of gang violence.

“This will be matched with tough and intensive enforcement action to bring perpetrators to justice.”