PFD report

Samuel Duckworth · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 20 Oct 2014•Inner South London

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
4

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Unrestricted internet access to prescription-only drugs without medical supervision
    Part of recurring concern: Inadequate controls on access to prescription-only medicines outside regulated prescribing
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.4

  1. Action

    Work with international partners to develop an effective response to overseas internet supply of controlled drugs and address emerging threats.

    Stated by Home OfficeStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 October 2014.
  2. Action

    Work with the EU and international regulatory agencies to ensure offending websites comply with the law wherever possible.

    Stated by Home OfficeStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 October 2014.
  3. Action

    Work with internet providers to ensure compliance with the law and support closure of UK-based websites committing drug offences.

    Stated by Home OfficeStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 20 October 2014.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Unrestricted internet access to prescription-only drugs without medical supervision

Wider context from the report

“Mr Duckworth had consulted a psychiatrist and offered help with alcohol withdrawal and psychological therapies for mood swings, anxiety and impulse control. He was only prescribed a small amount of Diazepam, which I infer is because of the risks of abuse. Yet he had no difficulty in purchasing these prescription only drugs on the internet, 20 empty packets being found at the scene. No evidence was admitted as to whether such access could be restricted or regulated. The ease of access clearly constitutes an on going risk to the lives of other vulnerable people, whose medication should be medically supervised. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Inadequate controls on access to prescription-only medicines outside regulated prescribing.

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Work with international partners to develop an effective response to overseas internet supply of controlled drugs and address emerging threats.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Considerable illegal activity takes place on the internet outside of UK jurisdiction. The UK continues to work with international partners to develop an effective response to the supply of controlled drugs and to react swiftly to emerging threats. In order to tackle illegally trading websites identified overseas, we are building strong partnerships with international partners. There is also ongoing work with the EU and other international regulatory agencies to ensure that, wherever possible, offending websites are amended to comply with the law.”

Source location

2014-0456-Response-by-Home-Office
Page 2 · response
Published 20 October 2014

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Work with the EU and international regulatory agencies to ensure offending websites comply with the law wherever possible.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Considerable illegal activity takes place on the internet outside of UK jurisdiction. The UK continues to work with international partners to develop an effective response to the supply of controlled drugs and to react swiftly to emerging threats. In order to tackle illegally trading websites identified overseas, we are building strong partnerships with international partners. There is also ongoing work with the EU and other international regulatory agencies to ensure that, wherever possible, offending websites are amended to comply with the law.”

Source location

2014-0456-Response-by-Home-Office
Page 2 · response
Published 20 October 2014

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Work with internet providers to ensure compliance with the law and support closure of UK-based websites committing drug offences.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Government and law enforcement agencies take the issue of unlawful advertising and sales of drugs on the internet very seriously, and we continue to work with internet providers to ensure that they comply with the law. This can include closure of UK-based websites where they are found to be committing offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Online purchasing remains a relatively small overall element of drug supply: the 2013/14 Crime Survey for England and Wales shows that just 1% of adults who used drugs in the last 12 months sourced them from the internet.”

Source location

2014-0456-Response-by-Home-Office
Page 1 · response
Published 20 October 2014

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Build partnerships with international partners to tackle illegally trading websites identified outside UK jurisdiction.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Considerable illegal activity takes place on the internet outside of UK jurisdiction. The UK continues to work with international partners to develop an effective response to the supply of controlled drugs and to react swiftly to emerging threats. In order to tackle illegally trading websites identified overseas, we are building strong partnerships with international partners. There is also ongoing work with the EU and other international regulatory agencies to ensure that, wherever possible, offending websites are amended to comply with the law.”

Source location

2014-0456-Response-by-Home-Office
Page 2 · response
Published 20 October 2014

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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026