Guidance for the Implementation of the DIP provisions of the Drugs Act 2005
The Drugs Act 2005 introduced two measures, 'Testing on Arrest' and 'Required Assessment'. These are designed to help the Drug Interventions Programme increase the number of assessments and ultimately help more drug misusers get the treatment and support they need to combat their drug misuse.
Testing on Arrest provides an alternative to testing on charge, which is already carried out in DIP intensive areas, and is estimated will result in up to 3 times more people being tested for specified Class A drugs (Heroin and Crack/Cocaine).
Required Assessments enable the police to require those testing positive to attend an assessment of their drug use. This will provide individuals with opportunities to engage with treatment and other support, even if they do not go on to be charged with any offence. Once required, it is mandatory for those testing positive, and failure to comply is an offence in its own right. Currently only about 20% of individuals who test positive to specified Class A drugs go on to attend an assessment voluntarily. The introduction of Required Assessment is expected to increase significantly the proportion of drug misusers who go on to attend an assessment.
This guidance updates and replaces the final guidance published in August 2007. The guidance is for use by all areas implementing Testing on Arrest and Required Assessment (initial and follow-up). The guidance has been updated with the changes in the process changes to the process of sending medication samples for confirmatory testing: where an offender has accepted the positive drug test result as a reflection of their heroin use, and also declared taking medication, samples do not need to be sent for confirmatory analysis. The changes came into effect on 10 September 2008 and the DT1 has been amended. Annex A will be updated on a more regular basis as an independent webpage.
Date: Tue Jan 31 12:39:16 GMT 2006
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