�������t¶��

"This threat is asserted and not proven, and these companies are profit-driven so it is not in their interests to sabotage our infrastructure," said Prof Giles Mohan of the Open University.

The strategy also has weary critics who say the notion of “meeting addicts where they are” has not proven effective enough at getting people to seek treatment or lowering death rates.

He insisted that the doctor and her patient had not proven how, precisely, the patient’s condition threatened her life.

The government is going to press ahead with the abolition of the 'not proven' verdict, which has cross-party support.

That would be presented as a counter balance to the abolition of not proven and recent changes on the rules on corroboration.