History of Release: 1990s
- 1990
- American law enforcement agencies warn that smoking of methyl-amphetamine "Ice" threatens to become America's drug problem of the 1990's. Vets in Naples discover a kilogramme of heroin hidden inside a cow's stomach in an alleged bungled mafia smuggling operation. Lee Harris owner of London's oldest 'head shop', Alchemy, is sentenced to 3 months' imprisonment for selling items such as cigarette papers and pipes "believed to be used for the smoking of cannabis." Sentence later quashed on appeal. Poll tax 'riot' in Trafalgar Square.
- 1991
- Criminal Justice Act introduces new option for sentencing offenders with drug problems to community based treatment orders. Release notes alarming increase in drug testing by employers. Use of crack cocaine shows steady increase. Release moves premises again from Commercial Road to Old Street.
- 1992
- Release celebrates its 25th anniversary. New full-page Times advertisement calling for legislation of cannabis is published as Release issues its own White Paper on the case for Reform of the Drug Laws. Increasing number of calls noted about school pupils being excluded for possession of cannabis. Police blockade of annual Avon Free festival results in 25,000 travellers and ravers converging on Castlemorton Common for weekend festival.
- 1993
- Separate reports confirm that over 30% of the population believe in some form of decriminalization or legislation of drugs. "Operation Nomad" and "Operation Snapshot" are launched, major multi-force intelligence gathering operations against travellers and outdoor "rave" organizers. New Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill published, eroding the right to silence and introducing new restrictions on raves, festivals, protests, travellers and squatting.
- 1994
- Launch of Release Drugs in Schools Helpline, funded by the Story of Christmas Appeal and opened by Dame Judy Dench. 200 calls received in first 2 months. Drugs in Schools, an initiative in partnership with OFSTED, the Central Drug Co-ordination Unit and local schools and authorities, was set up by Release and implemented to address the increasing number of pupils excluded from further education by drug use.
- All defendants accused of "conspiracy to cause public nuisance" at Castlemorton Common acquitted. Criminal Justice and Public Order Act becomes Law. Mass eviction of traveller sites.
- 1995
- Home Secretary Michael Howard introduces a five-fold increase in the maximum fine for possession of cannabis. Government launches Tackling drugs Together White Paper setting out new three-year drug Strategy.
- 1996
- Anabolic Steroids brought under the controls of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and regulations on Tamazepam tightened. Compulsory random testing of prisoners introduced in all UK prisons. New powers are planned to impose minimum seven years imprisonment for traffickers of Class A drugs.
- 1997
- New law introduced to close down clubs where drug dealing is suspected. New Labour Government announces creation of Drug Czar to coordinate War on Drugs strategy. Release publishes "Drugs and Dance Survey" and "Sex Workers and the Law". Independent on Sunday launches decriminalization of cannabis campaign. Assuming current trends continue Release estimates that between 1967 and the year 2000, a million people will have been dealt with for cannabis related offences in the UK.
- 1998
- Safer Clubbing, an initiative by Release provides first aid and information (including a booklet produced in association with the Home Office) to a generation of party goers. The aim - to help people avoid drug problems and keep safe while clubbing.
- 1999
- Social Inclusion, a project aimed at helping and highlighting the plight of people facing social exclusion because of drug use. This involved publication of the highly acclaimed 'Room for Drugs' and kept the field abreast of the struggle over drug use on premises, homelessness being a particular area of expertise.
From 1994 to 1999, Release dealt with about 6,000 calls and sent out 20,000 information pamphlets. The main thrust was to communicate with all parties involved in the exclusion process, to achieve a high percentage of re-integration for young people in mainstream education.
Release moved to its home in Old Street in 1991, where it remains today.
