Drug testing on arrest

Drug Testing On Arrest (DTOA) introduced in Shropshire

From time to time we will be publishing news stories on Shropshire Newsroom from our partner organisations.  The following is from Safer and Stronger Communities Partnership:

A new initiative being launched next week by Shropshire’s Safer and Stronger Communities Partnership will see people who are arrested undergo tests for Class A drugs when they are detained.

From Monday 2 July 2012, ‘Drug Testing On Arrest’, (DTOA), part of the Drug Intervention Programme known as DIP, is being introduced to help organisations within the criminal justice system to identify and tackle drug-related offending.

It will also offer partner agencies the opportunity to provide intervention and treatment to individuals who provide a positive test. 

Professor Rod Thomson, Director of Public Health in Shropshire and Chair of the Safer Stronger Communities Partnership, welcomed the introduction of Drug Testing on Arrest:

“This new initiative will ensure the Partnership can target resources on those whose offending and drug use is causing the most harm within communities.  Offenders identified under the scheme have the opportunity to address their drug use through this integrated approach, which in turn will hopefully impact on their offending behaviour.”

Any person over the age of 18 who is detained under the following criteria at Shrewsbury Police Station will be requested to provide a drug test.  The three categories are:

• Any burglary dwelling offence (including attempts)
• All class A drug supply and possession offences (including attempts)
• Any IOM (Integrated Offender Management) or PPO (Prolific and Priority Offender) prisoners aged over 18 for any national trigger offence (including attempts).  National trigger offences mainly cover theft, fraud and criminal attempts.

Speaking about the introduction of DTOA in Shropshire, Detective Inspector Pete Brophy, who is leading on the initiative, said:

“Following a positive test for Class A drugs such as cocaine or heroin, a detainee is then required to attend two meetings – known as required assessments – with a drugs worker.  Wherever possible, the initial assessment should take place during the period of detention. 

“Failure to provide a mouth swab and failure to attend the required assessments will be an offence.  The requirement to attend both required assessments following a positive test still stands, even if a released detainee faces no further action regarding the offence they were arrested for.

“Failure to attend a required assessment is a criminal offence and is punishable by three months in prison and/or a fine.  However, the overall aim of the initiative is to get an individual into treatment, rather than take action for failure to provide or attend required assessments.

“We are confident the introduction of DTOA will allow us to target users of Class A drugs and then channel them into treatment.  We also believe the initiative will offer us greater intelligence about drug users – and drug supply and demand – and will also allow us to target our efforts more accurately and with a much higher degree of knowledge.

“Over the next few days persistent offenders locally will be receiving a letter warning them about the introduction of DTOA and I really hope it acts as not only a deterrent to them, but also any other people in Shropshire who are intent on taking drugs.”

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for public protection, said:

“Drug related crime is something that we take very seriously.  Bringing in more preventative initiatives like the Drug Testing On Arrest programme will certainly help identify and tackle drug related offending whilst helping those come off drugs for good.”