Police no-show at drug-related 999s saves lives

Police no longer routinely attend drug-related 999 calls in North Yorkshire - and lives are being saved, says a new report

Under a new system introduced across North Yorkshire in December, police are no longer routinely called out by the Ambulance Service to suspected drug overdoses.

Six months on, according to a new report,  89 per cent of drug and alcohol service users believe people are now more likely to call an ambulance in the event of an overdose - meaning more lives can be saved.

The initiative was organised by North Yorkshire police and ambulance services, in partnership with the North Yorkshire and City of York Drug and Alcohol Action teams and other partners, in an effort to reduce drug-related deaths. It is based on the idea that drug users, who are often in the company of other users, family members or friends, can be reluctant to call an ambulance after an overdose and that getting help is often delayed because of their concern about police involvement.

For more on this from the Northern Echo, click here