Musicians and MPs call on Home Office to reconsider “shortsighted and dangerous” festival drug checking policy

Artists, music industry groups and more than 30 MPs are urging the government to reconsider the Home Office's short notice "disastrous decision" to implement a licensing requirement for drug-checking services at UK festivals.

Musicians Fatboy Slim, Billy Bragg and Metronomy's Olugbenga Adelekan have teamed up with NTIA CEO Mike Kill and Sacha Lord, Parklife founder and Manchester's Nighttime Economy Adviser, and 31 MPs, including three Tories, to write to Home Secretary Suella Braverman, imploring her to allow upcoming festivals to host onsite drug-checking services for confiscated and surrendered substances, the Guardian reports. The letter calls the decision "shortsighted and dangerous" as drug-checking services at festivals are proven to improve the safety of attendees. 

Home Office officials have stated that the requirement for a special licence — with an application process of up to three months and fee of over £3,000 — for festivals to host "back-of-house" drug-checking services is not new, though it appears to have been implemented suddenly ahead of of Parklife's 2023 festival on the weekend of 10th June.

Festival organisers have said that the development "puts people at risk" just as the UK's summer festival season gets into full swing. The  licensing requirements also stipulate the drug-checking facilities must be surveyed by officials weeks in advance, which is not possible for temporary and mobile events. 

The BBC reports Glastonbury was able to do drug checking through a private provider, and the Reading and Leeds festival organiser confirms the event will also have drug-checking services. 

For more on the importance of the UK government adopting drug policy through a harm-reduction lens, revisit journalist Ed Gillett's 2021 feature. 

Read the letter in full via MP Sam Tarry.