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Drugs

West Midlands Police Drug Interventions Programme

West Midlands Police Drugs Intervention Programme (DIP) are engaging more and more offenders who misuse drugs every day.

We work alongside our multi-agency partners, drug testing and referring people into treatment programmes to help them break free from the ‘revolving door’ of drugs-crime-prison and get them out of crime and into treatment.

Drug testing adult offenders through the DIP has become standard practice across the force since its introduction in April 2004. It has proved that around half of all acquisitive crimes committed in the West Midlands are committed to fund drug addictions.

Under the Drugs Act 2005 Part 2 Section 7, drug-misusing offenders will be tested for heroin, crack and cocaine when arrested for the following offences:

Theft
Robbery
Burglary
Vehicle taking
Obtaining property by deception
Going equipped to steal
Handling stolen goods
Begging
Production and supply of controlled drugs
Possession of controlled drugs
Possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply
Fraud

Further to this we can also drug test for other offences where there is a belief that Class A drugs may have been involved.

A positive drug test will result in a Required Assessment with a drug worker. This is the start of exploring the individual’s drug misuse and offending behaviour while at the same time offering support with many aspects of their lives including: tackling drug misuse, harm reduction, life skills, education and training, employment, treatment advice and housing.

Support and advice

If you live in the West Midlands area and need support and drug advice, our partner agencies and other sources offer advice and services:

Need more information on the above subject?
Try the Ask the Police external website.