What the Government called a renewed drive to break the links between drugs and crime was announced by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
New laws will be introduced, say Labour, to enable the police to test those arrested for a trigger offence for Class A drugs on arrest rather than on charge, and introduce mandatory assessment for suspects who test positive. Powers to ensure that drug dealers who swallow their drugs to avoid detection do not slip through the net will also be introduced, the Government says.
The changes will make the Government’s flagship Drug Intervention Programme – which targets drug-using offenders to get them off drugs, into treatment and away from crime – even more effective, it is claimed. The programme is working to break the links between drugs and crime:between April and August 2004 more than 28,000 offenders were tested for heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine. Some 2500 people entered drug treatment between April and July 2004 (with 125 per cent more people entering treatment in July than in April). Early indications are that drug related crime is coming down faster in areas covered by the programme than in the country as a whole.
What they say
The Home Secretary, David Blunkett, said: "Breaking the cycle between prison and offending for drug addicts who commit crime to fund their habit is a vital part of the Government’s strategy to tackle drugs and crime. The Drug Intervention Programme is delivering real results and changing lives. However, if the scheme is to continue to be successful it is vital to increase the numbers of offenders tested for drugs and make sure the offenders who commit crime because of their drug habit get the treatment they need. That is why we will legislate to give the police extra powers to do this and to make sure drug dealers cannot evade detection by swallowing their drugs. Getting drug using offenders out of crime and into treatment is vital – we have also announced today an extra £219 million for drug treatment, including £40 million for treatment places in prison."
Some background
The Government’s Drug Intervention Programme is a range of services designed to target drug-using offenders at every point of the criminal justice system. By identifying drug users in the CJS we aim to get them into treatment, off drugs and away from a life of crime. The Government is also announcing £219m for drug treatment services for the most problematic drug users in the country. £179m of the extra money will go directly to Drug Action Teams to double the amount spent on treating 50,000 most seriously affected drug users. In addition to this, the Government will invest £40m every year to expand drug treatment within prisons to ensure that an estimated 78,000 prisoners receive effective treatment services by 2008.
