Mr. Coaker: 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 basic command units 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. The average rate of positive tests for specified Class A drugs for offenders charged with a trigger offence was as follows:
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
I have been asked to respond.
The strategy unit report on high-harm-causing drugs was undertaken in 2003, and contributed to wider policy debate across Government. The report did not make any formal recommendations to the Home Office, but helped to inform the development of the Government's existing drug strategy, which sets out a range of policies and interventions focusing on the most dangerous drugs that cause the most harm to communities and individuals.