§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of those brought into a police station tested positively for Class A drugs in 2002; and what the level of voluntary take-up of treatment was; [128627]
(2) what percentage of those brought into a police station tested positive for Class A drugs in the last six months for which figures are available; and what the level of voluntary take-up for treatment was for those people. [127671]
§ Caroline FlintIt is not possible to provide a national figure for the percentage of individuals testing positive for Class A drugs, nor do we have recent data available for positive tests at arrest. However, the percentage of individuals testing positive at charge for cocaine and/or opiates at each of nine pilot sites is shown in the table.
The data have been taken from Home Office Findings 180 "Evaluation of drug testing in the criminal justice system in nine pilot areas". This is available on the RDS website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/r180.pdf and in the House Library.
Police on charge drug test results for cocaine and/or opiates: cumulative to 31 October 2002
Pilot site Start date of pilot Testing positive for Cocaine and/or opiates
(Percentage)
Stafford and Cannock July 2001 45 Hackney September 2001 66 Nottingham September 2001 58 Bedford Agust 2002 54 Blackpool June 2002 44 Doncaster June 2002 63 Torquay July 2002 36 Wirral July 2002 58 Wrexham and Mold August 2002 56 Source: Home Office Findings 180 "Evaluation of drug testing in the criminal justice system in nine pilot areas" The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 gave the police power to drug test arrestees once they are charged with a "trigger offence" (these include property crime, robbery and specified Class A drug offences).
Data on the level of voluntary uptake for treatment by detainees testing positive for Class A drugs has yet to become available from this study. As the evaluation continues information will be collected as detainees/offenders move from one part of the criminal justice system to another, and into treatment.