We need to do all that we can to get as many drug addicted offenders into treatment as possible, says Prime Minister Tony Blair. Below, part of a recent speech.
The measures already in place to test offenders at the point of charge are working well – but need to be strengthened to increase the number who take up the offer of help.
So we will introduce testing at arrest as well as charge and require a person who has tested positive for a specified class A drug to attend an assessment by a drugs worker. Those who are assessed as needing further assistance or treatment will be required to attend a follow up appointment to draw up a care plan.
And from April next year we will extend the Drug Interventions Programme to 32 new police BCUs to take the total covered to 96 – covering some 16 million people and including 5 whole police force areas.
By 2008 we expect 1,000 offenders will be entering treatment each week.
Second, I want to give the police and Courts new powers to deal with drug dealers who attempt obstruct the police or play games with the court as part of our ongoing reforms to rebalance the criminal justice system in favour of the victim, the law abiding citizen and the law enforcement agencies.
So, we will introduce a new presumption that those caught in possession of more than a certain amount of drugs are guilty of intent to supply rather than possession for personal use.
We will make dealing near a school or using children as couriers an aggravating factor for sentencing so drug dealers found guilty of this would face a tougher penalty.
We will make unreasonable refusal to consent to an intimate body search count against the suspect in court and will give magistrates the power to remand into police custody for up to a further 192 hours those who swallow drugs until the evidence becomes available again.
And we will amend the Anti Social Behaviour Act to give police the power to enter premises, such as a crack house, to issue a closure notice.
