Former and serving police officers and officials from Britain, Europe and the US have told politicians that the “war on drugs” is lost and they must take the trade out of the hands of organised crime. They called for an evidence-based approach to drug use in the UK that seeks to not only minimise harm but also allow for the potential benefits that certain illegal drugs can have. Ron Hogg, police and crime commissioner for Durham, who is well known for instructing his force not to prioritise the prosecution of drug users, said it was time to give up on the war on drugs.