Northumbria Police Hosts Groundbreaking Drug Expert Witness Event

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On Wednesday, 28th June, Northumbria Police hosted a highly informative and engaging CPD event organised by Sgt Nick Lowden, Chair of DEWVA. The event brought together drug experts from Northumbria, Durham, and Cleveland forces to explore critical developments in drug-related crime and research. Officers from Nottinghamshire Police were also in attendance, reflecting the regional commitment to tackling drug-related harm through collaboration and shared expertise.

The day began with an opening address from DCI Marc Michael, Northumbria Police Force Drugs Lead, who underscored the pivotal role of drug expert witness work in modern policing. He highlighted how drugs are central to many of the challenges faced by law enforcement, with criminals constantly evolving their methods to evade detection. He emphasised that expert witnesses are among the most powerful tools available to police, enabling them to confront these issues head-on.

A standout presentation came from Jason Braund of the National Crime Agency (NCA), who delivered a compelling talk on cocaine impregnation techniques and the extraction methods encountered at crime scenes. His insights revealed the increasing sophistication of criminal operations and the growing challenges for law enforcement in detecting and disrupting these activities.

Professor Chris Pudney from Bath University offered an in-depth analysis of illicit THC vapes. His research exposed the widespread use of harmful adulterants—often synthetic cannabinoids—being passed off as THC. These substances pose serious health risks, particularly to young people who may unknowingly consume them.

Event organiser Sgt Nick Lowden also took to the stage to share his expertise on cannabis extraction methods. He covered solvent-free, open-loop, and closed-loop extraction techniques, and provided practical guidance on identifying signs of butane hash oil (BHO) production at crime scenes. His session offered valuable operational insights for officers on the front line.

In the afternoon, attendees were treated to a thought-provoking keynote from Professor David Nutt, a world-renowned British neuropsychopharmacologist. Formerly the UK Government’s Drugs Tsar, he chaired the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), founded Drug Science in 2010, and authored Drugs Without the Hot Air and Drug Science and British Drug Policy.

Professor Nutt delivered a wide-ranging talk titled ‘All You Wanted to Know About Drugs But Were Afraid to Ask’. In an open forum discussion, he shared his knowledge and views on:

• Individual and societal harms associated with various substances—including often-overlooked legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco—and the importance of evidence-based, scientifically informed drug policy

• Addictive personalities

• Vaping

• The introduction of the NPS Act and its impact on mephedrone users

• The Faulkner Report

• Drug testing in the armed forces and prisons

• Prescription medication abuse

• Psychedelic drugs—past, present, and their future use in treating trauma disorders

• A brief history of MDMA

• DMT use and commonly reported experiences

The Drug Expert Witness Event proved highly beneficial in equipping attending experts with cutting-edge insights into the most current drug threat risks, concealment techniques, and production methods. It also provided a valuable platform for exploring alternative perspectives grounded in scientific research, encouraging evidence-based approaches to drug enforcement and policy.