Drug testing on arrest: guidance for police forces
This series brings together all documents relating to drug testing on arrest.
Guidance for police forces on how to carry out self-funded drug testing on arrest.
All police forces in England and Wales can introduce self-funded drug testing on arrest as an approach to reducing drug-related offending.
Forces are able to manage their own operations across police sites - specific site authorisations through the Home Office are no longer required.
Drug testing is a powerful tool for identifying drug-misusing offenders. A positive drug test for heroin, crack or cocaine use is a valuable gateway to ensure the offender can access treatment and other support to tackle their drug-related offending.
Following a positive test, there are also legal sanctions for those unwilling to address their drug misuse and drug-related offending. In those areas operating drug testing on arrest, around two-thirds of those entering treatment are identified following the initial drug test.
Documents
Last updated 26 January 2021 + show all updates
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Correction to previous change note, this should read: "Removed out of date guidance documents 'Drug testing on arrest guidance' dated March 2010 and 'Drug testing police sites' dated April 2012."
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Removed out of date guidance documents 'Drug testing on arrest guidance' dated 30 June 2011 and 'Drug testing police sites' dated 13 April 2012.
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First published.