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DIP E-Bulletin - May 2008

Welcome to the May 2008 edition of the monthly e-bulletin for the Drug Interventions Programme.

Programme Director moves on after five years

Peter Wheelhouse, Programme Director for the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP), has left after five years of leading the work.

Peter is now Director of Customer Relations with the Security Industry Authority.  A permanent successor will be appointed in due course but, in the meantime, the role is being filled by Sally Richards - one of his deputies for the past 16 months.

Peter said “Five years ago I arrived in the drugs world to lead something then called the Criminal Justice Interventions Programme (CJIP) – without much idea what to expect. Now, as I move on to another role, I reflect on how fortunate I have been to have had the opportunity to be involved in work that has been uniquely rewarding (and testing at times, too). As many of you know, I have been around the criminal justice and public sector areas for many years and often rely on my ‘old lag, been there, done it’ defence to explain my weary cynicism. But my time in DIP has revived some of the parts of me, and why I am in the public service, that I thought were long gone.
 
“Quite simply, it has been a great privilege to work with so many people from so many agencies who really care about what they do and who typify the very best of public service values. I have not always agreed with all of you all of the time but I have never ceased to be in awe of your commitment and down right hard work when working with some of the most testing individuals in our society. I thank you for all you have done to make the Programme a success, to make things better in our communities and for your personal support and friendship to me. I shall miss it all greatly but I know it’s in your capable hands. Thanks again”.

Revised Conditional Cautioning guidance

Revised guidance on use of police Conditional Cautioning with a DIP condition is now available online.

Conditional Cautions are an alternative to prosecution.  They are intended to be a swift and effective means of dealing with straightforward cases where the offender is willing to admit the offence and agree to comply with specified conditions, a process covered by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) (new window).  They should provide an appropriate and proportionate response to the offending behaviour.

The conditions applied should generally be conducive to restoration or rehabilitation.  If the condition is not met, the offender may be charged and prosecuted with the original offence.

Conditional Cautioning with a DIP drug rehabilitative condition, which can be tailored to the individual and their drug use and offending, has been operating in a small number of early implementation areas since 2005 and is now being rolled out across England and Wales.  This particular condition is currently in use in at least one BCU in each police force in England and Wales and it is expected there will be full coverage, across all BCUs, during 2008.

Wider use of this power would extend the reach of DIP as it offers an early intervention for less serious or less persistent offenders.  It would mean that even in cases where people are leaving the CJS and not going on to court or beyond, there is an opportunity to engage them in treatment before their offending and related drug misuse escalates.

For this reason, use of the DIP condition as part of Conditional Cautioning is being rolled out and central policy leads want to encourage the police and CPS to make full use of this power in appropriate cases. The new Drug Strategy has set an ambition of 2000 Conditional Cautions with a DIP condition being put in place by March 2009 as a means of diverting people from low-level drug-related offending, which means doubling current usage.

The most important things to remember about the DIP-related cautioning conditions are:

• the measure provides an early opportunity to identify drug-misusing offenders and engage them in appropriate treatment and support before their lifestyle spirals into a more serious cycle of drug misuse and crime
• it is suitable for both DIP intensive and non-intensive areas and is not dependent on, nor ruled out by, the drug testing and Required Assessment processes
  an arrestee’s own admission to the offence and related drug misuse is sufficient to make it worth considering use of Conditional Cautioning, providing it meets the criteria set out under PACE, regardless of the type or classification of drug involved
• it is not a soft option and calls for a genuine and practical commitment to an individually-tailored programme.  There is a sanction of prosecution for the original offence if the offender does not comply
• the DIP condition is flexible, ranging from a one-session condition for relative low-level problems to a three-session condition with follow-up.  This more stringent condition requires much more commitment and may be appropriate for a low-level offender even where there is some history of previous drug-related offending
• the decision to use a DIP condition may be informed in intensive areas by other DIP interventions, such as testing for specified Class A drugs and the Required Assessment process, and can be used in appropriate cases involving people failing to attend, or remain at, their Required Assessment interviews
• Conditional Cautioning is a unique opportunity for prosecutors, the police, defence lawyers and treatment services to be jointly involved in out of court disposal
• along with other DIP interventions, Conditional Cautioning with a DIP condition can be a key tool to help local partnerships deliver against priority national indicators, such as PSA 25, relating to the reduction of the harm caused by drugs, and PSA 23, which relates to making communities safer through the reduction of acquisitive crime and re-offending
• the revised guidance builds on practical experience of using the condition in pilot areas and can help the police and CPS to get the best outcomes from this type of disposal

New set of DIP case studies

Following an appeal last month for fresh DIP case studies, a new set of stories about success in changing the lives of individual clients has been put together. 

The finishing touches are just being put to the document, which comprises about two dozen cases from around the country, and it will be published on the website in the next few weeks.  A link to the document will be included in the June e-bulletin.

The stories include examples of where some of DIP’s newer interventions, such as Required Assessment and Restriction on Bail, have helped drug-misusing offenders to be identified and to engage with services that can help them work towards a drug and crime-free lifestyle.

The document will be refreshed twice a year but new stories can be submitted at any time for inclusion in the next review.  To submit a case, please ask for a template for completion.  These are available from gillian.radcliffe@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Latest Key Messages

The latest Key Messages for DIP provides a “core script” to describe the various elements of the programme and the key points that should be understood about them.  This can be a useful resource when preparing report, briefings and other publications about DIP and it is reviewed and updated every two months.  The April/May edition, which features updates on DIP-related Conditional Cautioning, is currently available on the website.  An updated version will be posted in mid-June.