Expert Witness Services at Crew

Crew assist the judiciary to make informed decisions in drugs cases by providing unbiased reports and testimony in criminal and civil cases.

Crew staff provide court reports relating to cases involving substances that are illegal to possess and distribute. Most often the requests are from the defence agents as the prosecution service in Scotland: Proculator Fiscals Offices use the services of Police Expert Witness Teams (in each police force usually within the drug squads) for their opinion on such cases.

Most, but not all, of the cases involve disputing whether an amount of drug or the circumstances surrounding the case indicate supply or personal use. The consequent tariffs imposed by the courts can be considerably different if the person is found guilty of supply rather than simple possession.

e.g. possession of a class A drug such as 'magic mushrooms' could be up to 7 years in prison and an unlimited fine while intent to supply or being involved in supply could mean life in prison and an unlimited fine.

John Arthur the director of Crew currently provides this service and has provided reports and given testimony at cases around the country. His qualifications for carrying out such work are as follows:

Crew 2000 is a leading Scottish Drug Information Project. Crew provides "harm reduction" advice, information and support services to people who use, or are likely to use illicit substances. Our organisation is known for researching drug issues and monitoring trends in drug use in Scotland.

John is the Director of Crew 2000 and has worked with drugs users in both a professional and voluntary capacity for the past 15 years. He has set up a number of projects and initiatives covering areas such as street-work with drug users, developed early intervention strategies with heroin users and established drugs information services.

John provides training around harm reduction approaches in working with drug users to a variety of key professionals such as:

• Police officers @ Scottish Police Training College at Tulliallan
• Medical students @ Edinburgh Medical School
• Social service personnel and youth workers in a variety of local authorities

Working with people who use drugs throughout this time John has supported people to access treatment and rehabilitation or to stabilise their drug use. He is familiar with the sorts of quantities and the variety of substances that drug users are likely to use for the purposes of getting high. John also keeps up to date with current street prices of various illicit substances including Diamorphine (heroin).

John engages with people who are using recreationally, those with problematic use and continues to work with addicts who are attempting to recover from addiction to legal and illegal substances including alcohol and heroin.

Holding a PGC in Addictions Studies from Glasgow University John is first to admit that he is no 'academic' but has seen addiction and drug use from personal, community and professional perspectives and has been involved in working groups with national and international bodies to inform policy and disseminate good practice in drug services.

John's most recent involvements include:

• EU Democracy Cities and Drugs: multi country involvement in developing safer cities. In particular helping to produce the Safer Nightlife
• Projects guide for public, private and voluntary sector providers.
• Psychostimulant Working Group member
• Member of the Scottish Drug Recovery Network

All enquiries for expert witness work should be sent via our contact page