Drug Interventions Programme
Drug testing
Drug testing of offenders charged with a range of specific 'trigger' offences was introduced in April 2003, in the police Basic Command Units with high levels of acquisitive crime.
Testing on Arrest is a provision of the Drugs Act 2005 and is an alternative to drug testing after charge. It was phased in across all Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) intensive areas in England last year and is now the preferred point of testing, providing an opportunity to screen up to three times as many people at some stage of their detention.
A total of 173 police custody suites can now conduct drug testing on arrest or on charge. Ten of these across seven police forces in England and Wales, have the power to test only on charge rather than at any point during custody.
