diff --git a/Changelog.md b/Changelog.md
index 69e4fbb24..9c506da89 100644
--- a/Changelog.md
+++ b/Changelog.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+[0.12.1.0]:
+
+* API additions:
+  * New primitives `Data.ByteString.Unsafe.unsafeTakeEnd` and
+    `Data.ByteString.Unsafe.unsafeDropEnd`
+
 [0.12.0.2] — August 2023
 
 * Bug fixes:
diff --git a/Data/ByteString.hs b/Data/ByteString.hs
index 1e39ae67f..ce4c94fb4 100644
--- a/Data/ByteString.hs
+++ b/Data/ByteString.hs
@@ -423,19 +423,19 @@ head (BS x l)
 --
 -- This is a partial function, consider using 'uncons' instead.
 tail :: HasCallStack => ByteString -> ByteString
-tail (BS p l)
-    | l <= 0    = errorEmptyList "tail"
-    | otherwise = BS (plusForeignPtr p 1) (l-1)
+tail ps
+    | length ps <= 0 = errorEmptyList "tail"
+    | otherwise = unsafeDrop 1 ps
 {-# INLINE tail #-}
 
 -- | /O(1)/ Extract the 'head' and 'tail' of a ByteString, returning 'Nothing'
 -- if it is empty.
 uncons :: ByteString -> Maybe (Word8, ByteString)
-uncons (BS x l)
+uncons ps@(BS x l)
     | l <= 0    = Nothing
     | otherwise = Just (accursedUnutterablePerformIO $ unsafeWithForeignPtr x
                                                      $ \p -> peek p,
-                        BS (plusForeignPtr x 1) (l-1))
+                        unsafeDrop 1 ps)
 {-# INLINE uncons #-}
 
 -- | /O(1)/ Extract the last element of a ByteString, which must be finite and non-empty.
@@ -454,17 +454,17 @@ last ps@(BS x l)
 --
 -- This is a partial function, consider using 'unsnoc' instead.
 init :: HasCallStack => ByteString -> ByteString
-init ps@(BS p l)
+init ps
     | null ps   = errorEmptyList "init"
-    | otherwise = BS p (l-1)
+    | otherwise = unsafeDropEnd 1 ps
 {-# INLINE init #-}
 
 -- | /O(1)/ Extract the 'init' and 'last' of a ByteString, returning 'Nothing'
 -- if it is empty.
 unsnoc :: ByteString -> Maybe (ByteString, Word8)
-unsnoc (BS x l)
+unsnoc ps@(BS x l)
     | l <= 0    = Nothing
-    | otherwise = Just (BS x (l-1),
+    | otherwise = Just (unsafeDropEnd 1 ps,
                         accursedUnutterablePerformIO $
                           unsafeWithForeignPtr x $ \p -> peekByteOff p (l-1))
 {-# INLINE unsnoc #-}
@@ -921,10 +921,10 @@ unfoldrN i f x0
 -- | /O(1)/ 'take' @n@, applied to a ByteString @xs@, returns the prefix
 -- of @xs@ of length @n@, or @xs@ itself if @n > 'length' xs@.
 take :: Int -> ByteString -> ByteString
-take n ps@(BS x l)
+take n ps@(BS _ l)
     | n <= 0    = empty
     | n >= l    = ps
-    | otherwise = BS x n
+    | otherwise = unsafeTake n ps
 {-# INLINE take #-}
 
 -- | /O(1)/ @'takeEnd' n xs@ is equivalent to @'drop' ('length' xs - n) xs@.
@@ -939,19 +939,19 @@ take n ps@(BS x l)
 --
 -- @since 0.11.1.0
 takeEnd :: Int -> ByteString -> ByteString
-takeEnd n ps@(BS x len)
+takeEnd n ps@(BS _ len)
   | n >= len  = ps
   | n <= 0    = empty
-  | otherwise = BS (plusForeignPtr x (len - n)) n
+  | otherwise = unsafeTakeEnd n ps
 {-# INLINE takeEnd #-}
 
 -- | /O(1)/ 'drop' @n xs@ returns the suffix of @xs@ after the first @n@
 -- elements, or 'empty' if @n > 'length' xs@.
 drop  :: Int -> ByteString -> ByteString
-drop n ps@(BS x l)
+drop n ps@(BS _ l)
     | n <= 0    = ps
     | n >= l    = empty
-    | otherwise = BS (plusForeignPtr x n) (l-n)
+    | otherwise = unsafeDrop n ps
 {-# INLINE drop #-}
 
 -- | /O(1)/ @'dropEnd' n xs@ is equivalent to @'take' ('length' xs - n) xs@.
@@ -966,18 +966,18 @@ drop n ps@(BS x l)
 --
 -- @since 0.11.1.0
 dropEnd :: Int -> ByteString -> ByteString
-dropEnd n ps@(BS x len)
+dropEnd n ps@(BS _ len)
     | n <= 0    = ps
     | n >= len  = empty
-    | otherwise = BS x (len - n)
+    | otherwise = unsafeDropEnd n ps
 {-# INLINE dropEnd #-}
 
 -- | /O(1)/ 'splitAt' @n xs@ is equivalent to @('take' n xs, 'drop' n xs)@.
 splitAt :: Int -> ByteString -> (ByteString, ByteString)
-splitAt n ps@(BS x l)
+splitAt n ps@(BS _ l)
     | n <= 0    = (empty, ps)
     | n >= l    = (ps, empty)
-    | otherwise = (BS x n, BS (plusForeignPtr x n) (l-n))
+    | otherwise = (unsafeTake n ps, unsafeDrop n ps)
 {-# INLINE splitAt #-}
 
 -- | Similar to 'Prelude.takeWhile',
@@ -1151,18 +1151,17 @@ splitWith _ (BS _  0) = []
 splitWith predicate (BS fp len) = splitWith0 0 len fp
   where splitWith0 !off' !len' !fp' =
           accursedUnutterablePerformIO $
-              splitLoop fp 0 off' len' fp'
+              splitLoop 0 off' len' fp'
 
-        splitLoop :: ForeignPtr Word8
-                  -> Int -> Int -> Int
+        splitLoop :: Int -> Int -> Int
                   -> ForeignPtr Word8
                   -> IO [ByteString]
-        splitLoop p idx2 off' len' fp' = go idx2
+        splitLoop idx2 off' len' fp' = go idx2
           where
             go idx'
                 | idx' >= len'  = return [BS (plusForeignPtr fp' off') idx']
                 | otherwise = do
-                    w <- peekFpByteOff p (off'+idx')
+                    w <- peekFpByteOff fp (off'+idx')
                     if predicate w
                        then return (BS (plusForeignPtr fp' off') idx' :
                                   splitWith0 (off'+idx'+1) (len'-idx'-1) fp')
@@ -1188,19 +1187,22 @@ splitWith predicate (BS fp len) = splitWith0 0 len fp
 --
 split :: Word8 -> ByteString -> [ByteString]
 split _ (BS _ 0) = []
-split w (BS x l) = loop 0
+split w ps@(BS x l) = loop 0
     where
         loop !n =
             let q = accursedUnutterablePerformIO $ unsafeWithForeignPtr x $ \p ->
                       memchr (p `plusPtr` n)
                              w (fromIntegral (l-n))
             in if q == nullPtr
-                then [BS (plusForeignPtr x n) (l-n)]
+                then [unsafeDrop n ps]
                 else let i = q `minusPtr` unsafeForeignPtrToPtr x
-                      in BS (plusForeignPtr x n) (i-n) : loop (i+1)
+                      in unsafeSlice n i ps : loop (i+1)
 
 {-# INLINE split #-}
 
+unsafeSlice  :: Int -> Int -> ByteString -> ByteString
+unsafeSlice a b (BS x _) = BS (plusForeignPtr x a) (b - a)
+{-# INLINE unsafeSlice #-}
 
 -- | The 'group' function takes a ByteString and returns a list of
 -- ByteStrings such that the concatenation of the result is equal to the
@@ -1716,7 +1718,7 @@ inits bs = NE.toList $! initsNE bs
 -- @since 0.11.4.0
 initsNE :: ByteString -> NonEmpty ByteString
 -- see Note [Avoid NonEmpty combinators]
-initsNE (BS x len) = empty :| [BS x n | n <- [1..len]]
+initsNE ps = empty :| [unsafeTake n ps | n <- [1..length ps]]
 
 -- | /O(n)/ Returns all final segments of the given 'ByteString', longest first.
 tails :: ByteString -> [ByteString]
diff --git a/Data/ByteString/Char8.hs b/Data/ByteString/Char8.hs
index 1d4d9accd..94deb8742 100644
--- a/Data/ByteString/Char8.hs
+++ b/Data/ByteString/Char8.hs
@@ -874,12 +874,12 @@ unzip ls = (pack (P.map fst ls), pack (P.map snd ls))
 -- > break isSpace == breakSpace
 --
 breakSpace :: ByteString -> (ByteString,ByteString)
-breakSpace (BS x l) = accursedUnutterablePerformIO $ unsafeWithForeignPtr x $ \p -> do
+breakSpace ps@(BS x l) = accursedUnutterablePerformIO $ unsafeWithForeignPtr x $ \p -> do
     i <- firstspace p 0 l
     return $! case () of {_
-        | i == 0    -> (empty, BS x l)
-        | i == l    -> (BS x l, empty)
-        | otherwise -> (BS x i, BS (plusForeignPtr x i) (l-i))
+        | i == 0    -> (empty, ps)
+        | i == l    -> (ps, empty)
+        | otherwise -> B.splitAt i ps
     }
 {-# INLINE breakSpace #-}
 
@@ -897,9 +897,9 @@ firstspace !ptr !n !m
 --
 -- @since 0.10.12.0
 dropSpace :: ByteString -> ByteString
-dropSpace (BS x l) = accursedUnutterablePerformIO $ unsafeWithForeignPtr x $ \p -> do
+dropSpace ps@(BS x l) = accursedUnutterablePerformIO $ unsafeWithForeignPtr x $ \p -> do
     i <- firstnonspace p 0 l
-    return $! if i == l then empty else BS (plusForeignPtr x i) (l-i)
+    return $! if i == l then empty else B.unsafeDrop i ps
 {-# INLINE dropSpace #-}
 
 firstnonspace :: Ptr Word8 -> Int -> Int -> IO Int
diff --git a/Data/ByteString/Lazy.hs b/Data/ByteString/Lazy.hs
index ca34f1aa1..1e4acae8c 100644
--- a/Data/ByteString/Lazy.hs
+++ b/Data/ByteString/Lazy.hs
@@ -1462,8 +1462,8 @@ initsNE = (Empty :|) . inits' id
     inits' :: (ByteString -> ByteString) -> ByteString -> [ByteString]
     -- inits' f bs === map f (tail (inits bs))
     inits' _ Empty = []
-    inits' f (Chunk c@(S.BS x len) cs)
-      = [f (S.BS x n `Chunk` Empty) | n <- [1..len]]
+    inits' f (Chunk c cs)
+      = [f (S.unsafeTake n c `Chunk` Empty) | n <- [1..S.length c]]
       ++ inits' (f . Chunk c) cs
 
 -- | /O(n)/ Returns all final segments of the given 'ByteString', longest first.
diff --git a/Data/ByteString/Lazy/Internal.hs b/Data/ByteString/Lazy/Internal.hs
index 9b3cd76ac..22ec13d6a 100644
--- a/Data/ByteString/Lazy/Internal.hs
+++ b/Data/ByteString/Lazy/Internal.hs
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ toStrict = \cs -> goLen0 cs cs
     -- closures which would result in unnecessary closure allocation.
   where
     -- It's still possible that the result is empty
-    goLen0 _   Empty                 = S.BS S.nullForeignPtr 0
+    goLen0 _   Empty                 = S.empty
     goLen0 cs0 (Chunk c cs)          = goLen1 cs0 c cs
 
     -- It's still possible that the result is a single chunk
diff --git a/Data/ByteString/Lazy/ReadInt.hs b/Data/ByteString/Lazy/ReadInt.hs
index 234bfe9fe..036721a0d 100644
--- a/Data/ByteString/Lazy/ReadInt.hs
+++ b/Data/ByteString/Lazy/ReadInt.hs
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ module Data.ByteString.Lazy.ReadInt
     ) where
 
 import qualified Data.ByteString.Internal as BI
+import Data.ByteString.Unsafe
 #ifdef BYTESTRING_STRICT
 import Data.ByteString
 #else
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ import Data.ByteString.Lazy
 import Data.ByteString.Lazy.Internal
 #endif
 import Data.Bits (FiniteBits, isSigned)
-import Data.ByteString.Internal (pattern BS, plusForeignPtr)
+import Data.ByteString.Internal (pattern BS)
 import Data.Int
 import Data.Word
 import Foreign.ForeignPtr (ForeignPtr)
@@ -177,18 +178,18 @@ _readDecimal !r = consume
   where
     consume :: ByteString -> Word64 -> Maybe (a, ByteString)
 #ifdef BYTESTRING_STRICT
-    consume (BS fp len) a = case _digits q r fp len a of
+    consume ps@(BS fp len) a = case _digits q r fp len a of
         Result used acc
             | used == len
               -> convert acc empty
             | otherwise
-              -> convert acc $ BS (fp `plusForeignPtr` used) (len - used)
+              -> convert acc $ unsafeDrop used ps
         _   -> Nothing
 #else
     -- All done
     consume Empty acc = convert acc Empty
     -- Process next chunk
-    consume (Chunk (BS fp len) cs) acc
+    consume (Chunk ps@(BS fp len) cs) acc
         = case _digits q r fp len acc of
             Result used acc'
                 | used == len
@@ -197,7 +198,7 @@ _readDecimal !r = consume
                 | otherwise
                   -- ran into a non-digit
                   -> convert acc' $
-                     Chunk (BS (fp `plusForeignPtr` used) (len - used)) cs
+                     Chunk (unsafeDrop used ps) cs
             _     -> Nothing
 #endif
     convert :: Word64 -> ByteString -> Maybe (a, ByteString)
diff --git a/Data/ByteString/Lazy/ReadNat.hs b/Data/ByteString/Lazy/ReadNat.hs
index 3a6030fcc..b45951467 100644
--- a/Data/ByteString/Lazy/ReadNat.hs
+++ b/Data/ByteString/Lazy/ReadNat.hs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ module Data.ByteString.Lazy.ReadNat
     ) where
 
 import qualified Data.ByteString.Internal as BI
+import Data.ByteString.Unsafe
 #ifdef BYTESTRING_STRICT
 import Data.ByteString
 #else
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ import Data.ByteString.Lazy
 import Data.ByteString.Lazy.Internal
 #endif
 import Data.Bits (finiteBitSize)
-import Data.ByteString.Internal (pattern BS, plusForeignPtr)
+import Data.ByteString.Internal (pattern BS)
 import Data.Word
 import Foreign.ForeignPtr (ForeignPtr)
 import Foreign.Ptr (Ptr, minusPtr, plusPtr)
@@ -127,7 +128,7 @@ _readDecimal =
     consume :: [Natural] -> Int -> Word -> ByteString
             -> (Natural, ByteString)
 #ifdef BYTESTRING_STRICT
-    consume ns cnt acc (BS fp len) =
+    consume ns cnt acc ps@(BS fp len) =
         -- Having read one digit, we're about to read the 2nd
         -- So the digit count up to 'safeLog' starts at 2.
         case natdigits fp len acc cnt ns of
@@ -136,18 +137,18 @@ _readDecimal =
                   -> convert acc' cnt' ns' $ empty
                 | otherwise
                   -> convert acc' cnt' ns' $
-                     BS (fp `plusForeignPtr` used) (len - used)
+                     unsafeDrop used ps
 #else
     -- All done
     consume ns cnt acc Empty = convert acc cnt ns Empty
     -- Process next chunk
-    consume ns cnt acc (Chunk (BS fp len) cs)
+    consume ns cnt acc (Chunk ps@(BS fp len) cs)
         = case natdigits fp len acc cnt ns of
             Result used acc' cnt' ns'
                 | used == len -- process more chunks
                   -> consume ns' cnt' acc' cs
                 | otherwise   -- ran into a non-digit
-                  -> let c = Chunk (BS (fp `plusForeignPtr` used) (len - used)) cs
+                  -> let c = Chunk (unsafeDrop used ps) cs
                       in convert acc' cnt' ns' c
 #endif
     convert !acc !cnt !ns rest =
diff --git a/Data/ByteString/Unsafe.hs b/Data/ByteString/Unsafe.hs
index f470ab77a..4b57f9cea 100644
--- a/Data/ByteString/Unsafe.hs
+++ b/Data/ByteString/Unsafe.hs
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ module Data.ByteString.Unsafe (
         unsafeLast,
         unsafeIndex,
         unsafeTake,
+        unsafeTakeEnd,
         unsafeDrop,
+        unsafeDropEnd,
 
         -- * Low level interaction with CStrings
         -- ** Using ByteStrings with functions for CStrings
@@ -113,12 +115,27 @@ unsafeTake :: Int -> ByteString -> ByteString
 unsafeTake n (BS x l) = assert (0 <= n && n <= l) $ BS x n
 {-# INLINE unsafeTake #-}
 
+-- | A variety of 'takeEnd' which omits the checks on @n@ so there is an
+-- obligation on the programmer to provide a proof that @0 <= n <= 'length' xs@.
+--
+-- @since 0.12.1.0
+unsafeTakeEnd :: Int -> ByteString -> ByteString
+unsafeTakeEnd n (BS x l) = assert (0 <= n && n <= l) $ BS (plusForeignPtr x (l-n)) n
+{-# INLINE unsafeTakeEnd #-}
+
 -- | A variety of 'drop' which omits the checks on @n@ so there is an
 -- obligation on the programmer to provide a proof that @0 <= n <= 'length' xs@.
 unsafeDrop  :: Int -> ByteString -> ByteString
 unsafeDrop n (BS x l) = assert (0 <= n && n <= l) $ BS (plusForeignPtr x n) (l-n)
 {-# INLINE unsafeDrop #-}
 
+-- | A variety of 'dropEnd' which omits the checks on @n@ so there is an
+-- obligation on the programmer to provide a proof that @0 <= n <= 'length' xs@.
+--
+-- @since 0.12.1.0
+unsafeDropEnd  :: Int -> ByteString -> ByteString
+unsafeDropEnd n (BS x l) = assert (0 <= n && n <= l) $ BS x (l-n)
+{-# INLINE unsafeDropEnd #-}
 
 -- | /O(1)/ 'unsafePackAddressLen' provides constant-time construction of
 -- 'ByteString's, which is ideal for string literals. It packs a sequence