FOI 430246

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 430246 

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 2nd September 2025.  Please find below the response to your request:

The purpose of this request is to gather data on the number of arrests linked to the distribution, sale or possession of illegal or otherwise unregulated weight loss drugs or products (e.g. those not licensed for use in the UK).

This request also covers cases where otherwise licensed weight loss products are being distributed, supplied, or administered by individuals or businesses not legally authorised to do so (e.g. beauty salons or unlicensed practitioners).

Specifically, I am seeking information on the following from January 2024 up until the most recent month available, e.g. August 2025:

1. The total number of arrests or recorded offences in relation to the alleged distribution, supply, or possession of illegal or unregulated weight loss drugs and/or products - including cases where licensed products are distributed, supplied, or administered by individuals or businesses not legally authorised to do so (e.g. salons or unlicensed practitioners).
2. The current number of ongoing investigations into the distribution, supply, or possession of such weight loss drugs and/or products - including where the seller or administrator is not licensed to do so. 

For clarity, I understand that cases may be recorded under a variety of descriptions or codes. To assist in locating the requested information, the following keywords and terms may be relevant: "GLP-1", "weight loss", "slimming", "Mounjaro", "Ozempic", "Wegovy", "Retatrutide", "Semgalutide", etc.

Possible offence categories (examples, not exhaustive): Administering a poison (e.g. Offences Against the Person Act 1861, s.23/s.24), supplying a prescription-only medicine (Human Medicines Regulations 2012), or supplying an unauthorised medicine (Human Medicines Regulations 2012).

If you use internal classification codes for recording such incidents, please apply those that most closely relate to the above offences. I confirm that I am not seeking any personal or identifying information about individuals involved in these cases.

Reply

West Mercia Police hold the information requested.

1. The total number of arrests or recorded offences in relation to the alleged distribution, supply, or possession of illegal or unregulated weight loss drugs and/or products - including cases where licensed products are distributed, supplied, or administered by individuals or businesses not legally authorised to do so (e.g. salons or unlicensed practitioners). 

1 arrest 

2. The current number of ongoing investigations into the distribution, supply, or possession of such weight loss drugs and/or products - including where the seller or administrator is not licensed to do so.

0 

The MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) have the power to investigate such matters, these may not all be reported to the police.