New powers allowing police to drug test people arrested for crimes such as theft, robbery and street muggings will come into force in 14 more police areas with the highest rates of drug-related crime from today (Friday 31 March).
Police now have powers to test on arrest in 17 police areas, including forcewide across 6 police forces, covering 159 custody suites in England.
The powers mean that for the first time in the 14 areas, drug misusing offenders will be tested for heroin, crack and cocaine on arrest for acquisitive offences. Those who test positive will be required to attend a compulsory drug assessment, even if they are not charged. The assessment, carried out by specialist drug workers, will aim to determine the extent of their drug problem and help them into treatment and other support.
Those who fail to provide a sample or comply with a required assessment face a fine of up to 2,500 and/or up to three months in prison.
Home Office Minister Paul Goggins said: "Many drug misusers commit crime to fund their habit, and create fear and misery in their communities as a result. I want to see more of these people getting out of crime and into treatment programmes to tackle their drug dependency.
"Testing on arrest and required assessments will help to identify more drug misusing offenders within the criminal justice system and our communities. It will help get more of them into treatment, reduce the amount of crime they commit and make all of us feel safer.
"I know from visiting various towns and cities across the England over the past few months that our drugs strategy is delivering real benefits. Record numbers of people are entering and staying in treatment and drug related crime coming down.
"However, more needs to be done. I believe these new powers will get even more drug misusers away from crime and into the treatment they need, and drive down drug-related crime even further."
Commenting on the plans, Martin Barnes, Chief Executive of DrugScope said: We support drug testing in the criminal justice system as a means of accessing drug treatment and as a route to appropriate community based measures rather than prison. However, many people in need of treatment do not commit crime and risk being excluded by an over-reliance on such initiatives.
Treatment works best when it includes aftercare support, such as housing and employment. Increasing the numbers in treatment should be balanced by improvements in effectiveness, including greater access to residential rehab places. Less than 3% of people in drug treatment are in a residential setting, which is low by international standards, and as many as 1 in 4 places are unfilled."
Nationally, over 2,000 drug misusing offenders are moving out of crime and into treatment every month. The Government is already on target to direct around 1,000 drug misusing offenders into treatment each week by 2008 and these new powers will help more offenders more quickly break the link between drugs and crime.
The new measures are part of the Drugs Act 2005 and were introduced in South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Nottinghamshire police forces on 1 December 2005.
On the same day as the expansion, restriction on bail is being rolled out across the whole of England. These powers mean that Courts will be able to deny bail unless the offender agrees to a drug assessment - if one hasn't already taken place - and any recommended follow-up treatment or support. Once rolled out nationwide any defendant who tests positive will be eligible for the new conditions.
The Government introduced the new powers after consultation with the police and other agencies to reduce further drug related crime by driving more drugs misusers into drug treatment programmes.
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Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Posted: 31st March 2006
