News & events
Back to Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) E-bulletinsDIP E-bulletin - May 2009
Welcome to the May 2009 edition of the monthly e-bulletin for the Drug Interventions Programme.
Use of Inspector’s Authority to tackle violent crime
All forces involved in drug testing in police custody are being encouraged to adopt a uniform national approach to use of Inspector’s Authority so that the intervention can become a more effective tool for tackling violent crime.
Since drug testing for heroin and crack/cocaine was introduced in 2003, it has become a routine part of local custody processes. Over 90% of those arrested for trigger offences – mostly acquisitive crimes – are drug tested.
However, greater use of Inspector’s Authority provides an opportunity to test for Class A drugs in cases involving appropriate non-trigger offences where there are reasonable grounds to think that use of heroin or crack/cocaine caused or contributed to the commission of the offence. This could include violent crimes, including knife crimes, which are currently a major focus of police activity.
The current set of trigger offences is largely made up of acquisitive crimes, previously evidenced as having a strong link to drug misuse. To add any category of violent or other crime to the set of trigger offences would need a change in legislation, which could only be recommended if there is clear evidence of a similar link.
In a recent letter to forces, the head of the Home Office’s Drug Interventions Programme, Sally Richards, and ACPO’s DIP lead, Deputy Chief Constable David Crompton, have urged police to look closely at cases in custody suites to ensure that all those involving violence that might be linked to use of heroin and crack/cocaine are considered for drug testing under Inspector’s Authority.
‘DIP remains a critical local crime reduction tool. Since it was introduced in 2003, we have seen a 28% reduction in acquisitive crime, to which drug-related crime makes a substantial contribution’ the letter stated.
‘Drug testing for trigger offences is now embedded. Use of Inspector’s Authority for drug testing in relation to non-trigger offences is much more variable, both in the numbers conducted and the positive test rate. To improve this, with your help, we need to introduce a national and uniform approach. As part of the booking-in procedure, consideration should be given to whether to drug test for all offences, where specified Class A drugs have caused or contributed to the offence.’
Forces have been provided with updated guidance on this and it is thought the benefits will be two-fold: helping extend the reach of DIP to offenders not currently being assessed and offered drug treatment and helping build a national picture of the link between certain non-trigger offences and Class A drug misuse.
Stories of DIP’s success
Local DIP schemes have submitted a number of fresh ‘success stories’ or case studies to illustrate how the programme is making a difference to lives and communities around England and Wales.
Many of those included are examples of how important the role of resettlement is in the process, or of how Prolific and other Priority Offender (PPO) schemes are working closely with DIP colleagues to manage some of the most problematic drug misusers who are doing the most harm in local neighbourhoods.
The 2009 success stories and some earlier examples, first published last summer, show evidence of how DIP is working to reduce re-offending.
Drug treatment in prisons
A website has been launched to keep stakeholders informed about ongoing work to increase the effectiveness of drug treatment in prisons.
Following a report last year of how resources in prison could be used to tackle the issue more effectively, a strategy review group has been set up to help deliver the improvements and the co-operation across relevant agencies. The group is chaired by Lord Kamlesh Patel of Bradford and membership of the group includes Sally Richards, who leads DIP as head of the Offender-based Interventions Unit at the Home Office.
The group met for the first time in February but the new Prison Drug Treatment Strategy Review Group (PDTSRG) (new window) website will provide ongoing updates on the work of the group.
National Tackling Drugs Week
A final reminder that National Tackling Drugs Week, 8 to 12 June, is fast approaching. It is led by the Home Office but provides local agencies and police forces with a platform to publicise their work to tackle drugs and reduce drug-related crime.
A National Tackling Drugs Week handbook is available to support those partners who would like to take part in the week and is available via the Home Office Drugs website which also includes other ideas and suggestions of how to get involved.
Link to latest Key Messages
The document setting out the Key Messages for DIP is still being overhauled to make it a more useful tool to help explain the programme and its benefits to local communities.
In the meantime, the most recent version of Key Messages can still be accessed.
This can be a useful resource when preparing community presentations, news releases, reports, briefings and other publications about DIP and it is reviewed and updated every two months.
