Transparency data

Data: Drug Testing on Arrest (DToA) programme (accessible)

Updated 11 April 2024

These data tables were published on 3 April 2024, presenting Drug Testing on Arrest programme data for the period March 2022 to December 2023.

Data is provided by police forces in England and Wales in receipt of Drug Testing on Arrest funding from the Home Office.

For further information about the Drug Testing on Arrest programme data, please contact dtoa.datacollection@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Notes

1. Prior to March 2023, data returns were provided by police forces on an aggregate basis and not all police forces provided complete data each month. Since March 2023, improvements have been made to the data return and more police forces now provide data on a more consistent basis. Since March 2023, data is now provided by police forces to the Home Office at the individual test record level.

2. Different police forces have returned data in different periods during the data collection and therefore these figures should not be treated as a complete reflection of all testing activity.

3. Table 1 presents data from March 2022 onwards, whilst tables 2-5 begin at March 2023 when more detailed outcomes data became available.

4. March 2022 was the month by which all 2021/22 Home Office funding had been provided to police forces. It is therefore included before the subsequent quarters for completeness in Table 1. Similarly, the new data returns process commenced in March 2023, which is therefore included for completeness before the subsequent quarters in Tables 2-5.

5. Data relates to the number of tests conducted, rather than the number of individuals tested. This is because the same individuals may be repeatedly tested.

6. Drug tests can be conducted following a trigger offence, or with an Inspector’s Authority following a non-trigger offence. Trigger offences are predominantly acquisitive crimes, such as burglary, robbery, and taking a motor vehicle without authority.

7. At present, individuals can be tested for the presence of cocaine or certain opiates only. Table 3 presents the results of drug tests by substance found.

8. Referrals data is currently optional for police forces to provide. Therefore the referral figures presented in Tables 4 and 5 are based on a small sample of overall test records provided by police forces and the referral rates should be treated as indicative only.

9. Referrals data is currently optional for police forces to provide. Therefore the referral figures presented in Tables 4 and 5 are based on a small sample of overall test records provided by police forces and the referral rates should be treated as indicative only.

Table 1: Number of reported total tests and positive tests for the period March 2022 to December 2023

	Mar 2022	Apr 2022 to June 2022	July 2022 to Sept 2022	Oct 2022 to Dec 2022	Jan 2023 to Mar 2023	Apr 2023 to June 2023	July 2023 to Sept 2023	Oct 2023 to Dec 2023	Total Mar 2022 to Dec 2023
Total reported tests	3,599	10,393	10,565	11,129	12,134	15,720	16,891	18,030	98,461
Total reported positive tests	1,874	5,577	5,883	6,104	6,554	8,846	9,724	10,264	54,826
Positive test rate	52%	54%	56%	55%	54%	56%	58%	57%	56%

Table 2: Number of reported drug tests for the period March 2023 to December 2023, by trigger or non-trigger offence

	Mar 2023	Apr 2023 to June 2023	July 2023 to Sept 2023	Oct 2023 to Dec 2023	Total Mar 2023 to Dec 2023
Tests following a trigger offence	2,945	10,233	12,403	14,449	40,030
Tests following a non-trigger offence	404	1,695	1,751	2,182	6,032
Not stated	1,335	3,792	2,737	1,399	9,263
Total	4,684	15,720	16,891	18,030	55,325

Table 3: Number of reported total and positive tests for the period March 2023 to December 2023, by substance

	Mar 2023	Apr 2023 to June 2023	July 2023 to Sept 2023	Oct 2023 to Dec 2023	Total Mar 2023 to Dec 2023
Total positive tests	2,545	8,846	9,724	10,264	31,379
Of which: positive for cocaine	1,292	4,739	5,382	6,300	17,713
Positive for opiates	85	313	316	395	1,109
Positive for both cocaine and opiates	723	2,567	2,717	3,569	9,576
Positive (specific substance not provided)	445	1,227	1,309	-	2,981
Total negative tests	1,566	5,215	5,712	7,265	19,758
Test result not stated	509	1,455	1,223	215	3,402
Test refused or unable to test	64	204	232	286	786
Total number of reported tests	4,684	15,720	16,891	18,030	55,325

Table 4: Where available, number of reported referrals into assessment following a positive test for the period March 2023 to December 2023

These figures are based on optional referrals data provided for a small sample of tests.

	Mar 2023	Apr 2023 to June 2023	July 2023 to Sept 2023	Oct 2023 to Dec 2023	Total Mar 2023 to Dec 2023
Total positive tests	2,545	8,846	9,724	10,264	31,379
Total positive tests with referral to assessment data available	815	3,692	5,348	6,229	16,084
Of which, referral to assessment made	755	3,308	4,967	5,668	14,698
Referral to assessment rate	93%	90%	93%	91%	91%

Table 5: Where available, number of reported referrals into treatment made following a referral to assessment for the period March 2023 to December 2023

These figures are based on optional referrals data provided for a small sample of tests.

	Mar 2023	Apr 2023 to June 2023	July 2023 to Sept 2023	Oct 2023 to Dec 2023	Total Mar 2023 to Dec 2023
Reported completed assessments, where onwards referral data is provided	154	442	1,156	1,233	2,985
Of which, referral to treatment made	28	123	701	655	1,507
Referral to treatment rate	18%	28%	61%	53%	50%