Collins, P, Critchley, KA and Whitfield, M (2018) Criminal Justice Project: Liverpool Drug Testing Profile (2014 to 2017). Project Report. Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool.

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Abstract

In Liverpool, the criminal justice process generally begins with the police drug testing individuals in the custody suite following an arrest. If offenders test positive for Class A drugs (opiates and/or cocaine), they are served with a Required Assessment (RA) by the police. This a compulsory legal sanction which requires the individual to attend up to two appointments (initial/follow-up RA) with a drugs worker. During these assessments the drugs worker will assess the individual’s drug use and offending behaviour and, if necessary, encourage them to engage with drug treatment services (Home Office, 2010). In 2016/17, 57% of those accessing criminal justice interventions in Merseyside presented via the RA route (Collins et al., 2017a), and for this reason the police play an important role in the early stages of this process. Merseyside Police introduced targeted drug testing in 2015. This involves a set list of questions around drug use that should be considered by the police before a decision is made on whether the arrestee is drug tested. The main aim of targeted testing is to reduce the number of negative drug tests carried out in the custody suite setting, thus save police time and money, while ensuring offenders who use drugs continue to be drug tested and referred to treatment services through the RA process. This Drug Testing Profile for Liverpool presents information on drug tests carried out at Liverpool’s custody suites and on Liverpool residents across the Merseyside area between January 2014 and December 2017, with a particular focus given to the most recent year (2017). This profile contextualises Merseyside Police drug testing data by providing numbers and trends of offenders who use drugs identified through this route into the criminal justice system and a demographic overview of the individuals. Comparisons to overall Merseyside figures have been made, where possible, with tables in Appendix B and C showing comparisons across each area (custody suite area and area of residence). This profile also provides recommendations for stakeholders, in terms of the efficient use of resources and effective services locally and across Merseyside.

Item Type:	Monograph (Project Report)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine > RA0440 Study and Teaching. Research
Divisions:	Public Health Institute
Publisher:	Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University
Date Deposited:	23 Apr 2018 08:16
Last Modified:	20 Jan 2022 16:43
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/8553

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