Written question asked by David Ruffley (Conservative) on Monday, 19 November 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 November 2007. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Monday, 21 January 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Drugs: Misuse

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of those brought into a police station tested positively for Class A drugs in each year since 1997; and what the level was of voluntary take-up of treatment.

Answer

Following a successful pilot in a limited number of sites between 2001 and 2003, drug testing of offenders for specified Class A drugs (heroin and cocaine/crack) in police custody came into operation from 2003 across 30 BCUs as part of the Drug Interventions Programme. Since that time the programme has expanded in a phased approach to 66 BCUs in 2004 and some 107 BCUs in 2005.Only offenders arrested or charged with a "trigger offence"—largely acquisitive crime related offences—are required to provide a sample to be tested for specified Class A drugs.Between 2003 and 2005 the programme operated drug testing at the point of charge and the average rate of positive tests for specified Class A drugs for offenders charged with a trigger offence was:"2003-04: 54 per cent.""2004-05: 46 per cent."From 2005 to the present time the programme operated drug testing at the point of arrest and the average rate of positive tests for specified Class A drugs for offenders arrested for a trigger offence was:"2005-06: 45 per cent.""2006-07: 37 per cent."From 2003 the number of offenders entering treatment voluntarily through the Drug Interventions Programme are as follows:

	Number
2003-04	1,950
2004-05	16,517
2005-06	24,557
2006-07	39,903

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 166840; 470 c1765-6W
Session: 2007-08
Subjects: Drugs Misuse
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk

Drugs: Misuse

Secondary information

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