Bristol declared ‘city of harm reduction’ as Greens seek less punitive drug policy

Cara Lavan, a Green councillor in Bristol, lost her partner, Jake Coe, to drug overdose poisoning. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt/The Guardian

Bristol has been formally declared a “city of harm reduction”, with local politicians pledging to focus on helping and treating users of illegal drugs rather than punishing them.

Green councillors, who lead the city council, said the declaration was a clear signal that public health rather than criminal justice solutions were needed to tackle the UK’s growing drugs crisis.