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Drug Testing Prisoners in Loughborough

Posted on 26/03/2008
P. Klein

Drugs testing of prisoners is to be introduced at Loughborough Police Station in a move to get offenders across the North out of crime and into treatment.

The introduction of drug testing and wider Drug Intervention Programme (DIP) interventions will be introduced in Loughborough on Tuesday April 1 2008 following its successful introduction in the city and the south of Leicestershire.  Once Loughborough goes ‘live on April 1, the whole of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will be covered by the programme.

The Drug Intervention Programme, which is a major part of the Governments drugs strategy, targets drug-using offenders in a bid to get them out of crime and into treatment.  It is a partnership approach involving Charnwood Crime and Disorder Partnership , Drug and Alcohol Action Teams (DAAT), the Probation Service, Addaction, the Courts, Crown Prosecution Service and other specialist service providers to give a holistic approach to crime reduction and drug treatment. This gives offenders the best possible opportunity to address their addictions and reduce offending.

Early figures from the local pilot scheme programme show an average reduction of 66% in offending.  In terms of costs, using the latest British Crime Survey figures, the total cost of crimes before the offenders were engaged on DIP was £162,990.  After DIP, this dropped to £77,354, bringing a saving of £85,636.

Inspector Dave Beaumont, from the Drugs Testing Project said; "In simple terms the programme has meant fewer crimes being committed by people on DIP, which in turn means fewer victims of crime and therefore good for the whole community."

Anyone over the age of 18, who is arrested for a ‘trigger offence, such as burglary, car crime or theft, will be tested for heroin, crack and cocaine at Loughborough Police Station Custody Suite.  Anyone testing positive will be referred to a drugs worker who will then work closely with them to address their drugs issues.

The testing and assessment process will be done by specially trained Custody Staff in partnership with Arrest Referral Officers from Addaction.  This is to provide early support and engagement into treatment by specialist workers in drug intervention.

The test is done by using a small spatula to take a sample of saliva from under the tongue. The test immediately identifies the type of specified class ‘A drug taken and, if its positive, the offender is immediately referred into the Drugs Intervention Programme.

The courts are also given greater powers to encourage drug taking offenders to participate in treatment by way of conditions of bail. These help ensure that where ever possible relevant persons are given every opportunity to get treatment.

Inspector Andy Ramsay, the Custody Manager for the North Area, said: "We are pleased to be introducing drug testing at Loughborough because research shows there is a strong link between the use of specified class ‘A drugs and crimes such as burglary, theft and robbery.  If we can help get people off drugs then we hope to see a reduction in crime.

"As already stated, the principle of the Drug Interventions Programme is to reduce crime. This is done through encouraging drug taking offenders out of crime and into treatment. DIP is already proving, both locally and nationally, that by providing the correct support and interventions this can be achieved and we look forward to even more success through the introduction of testing and wider DIP interventions on the North."