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:
Adfam
AddAction (Walsall, Wolverhampton area treatment team)
Alcohol Concern
Alcoholics Anonymous
Griffin Society (Anawim)
Dudley area treatment team
Birmingham area drug treatment team
Drugscope
Hit Information Site
Home Office
Home Office (reducing re-offending
Drugs Law and Human Rights
Safe Project
SIAS Solihull area treatment team
Swanswell Trust
Talk to Frank - Drug Advice and Information)
Turning Point Health and Social Care
Coventry area treatment team