Managing Methamphetamine - read the new ACPO guidance in full here

The UK has so far escaped a serious issue with methamphetamine – familiarly known as ‘crystal meth’, but law enforcement must stay one step ahead. With that in mind, ACPO has launched some guidance for those who may come into contact with the extremely dangerous and volatile illicit methamphetamine drug laboratories. Police Professional talks to Commander Simon Bray, Chair of the ACPO Methamphetamine working group, about the new guidance.

Methamphetamine – commonly known as crystal meth – is a desperately addictive drug, 90 per cent of people are hooked after only one use. So it is not surprising then that the construction of illicit laboratories has increased in some countries – with damaging results. Fortunately, it has not as yet become a serious issue in the UK, but there has still been an increase in the amount of laboratories found, with the existence of others suspected. Despite the small amount of numbers, ACPO have been quick to issue guidance for officers and first responders, due to the danger posed by the labs, and the drug itself.

Methamphetamine illicit labs

“In overall terms, the extent of illicit methamphetamine labs is not great, but there have been some high profile cases,” said Mr Bray.

The need for guidance about these labs comes not from the number of reported establishments, but from how dangerous they can be. Experiences in other countries have led ACPO to act before the methamphetamine lab issue reaches the same height as the problem in countries such as the USA.

“There have been cases – certainly in the States – of booby trapped labs,” explained Mr Bray.

“The mixture is quite combustible so there can be explosions. There may also be some very dangerous oppressive gases, such as phosphine. Some people that have slept in methamphetamine labs have ended up dying, through asphyxiation.”

“The capability must be there to dismantle and deal with laboratories.”

Another major issue is that these labs can look very much like explosive production labs.

“Of course you have always got the potential of chemical production leading into explosive production,” said Mr Bray.

“You can’t tell immediately whether it’s a lab for drug manufacture or for terrorist purposes.”

Although methamphetamine has started the whole project, the guidance is not just about this drug. The guidance will also be of use to any person dealing with other synthetic drug production sites or explosive laboratories. There has also been evidence that criminals involved in the production of cannabis have often been involved in methamphetamine production.

He explained that, despite the use of the word laboratory, in many cases it is a grandiose name for an establishment that could be small and very temporary.

“For example, in the Isle of Wight case, the lab was put together in the boot of a car. A methamphetamine lab can be somewhere quite small,” he said.

“We are focusing on methamphetamine because these labs are particularly dangerous but it is not just this drug,” said Mr Bray.

Most of all, Mr Bray and his team want all involved to know that help is on hand.

“The advice is that there is a central, national illicit lab unit, that you can call on and they will come, if the situation warrants it, ” he said.

“They are trained, they are equipped and they will be deployed at the request of police forces.”

Some forces, including the Metropolitan Police Service, have developed their own capability. This course of action will also need to be developed.

“We need to make sure that any other forces that want to develop this capability have got the right equipment, the right training and the right knowledge,” said Mr Bray.

“We need to know they are doing it the standardised, agreed way and then we can then tie that in beside national standard operating procedures around the specifics of entering an illicit lab, dismantling it and dealing with the forensic and other evidence.”

Guidance