HAMPSHIRE police say they are cracking down on drug-related harm and reoffending in the county by rolling out schemes such as its Drug Testing on Arrest initiative. 

They have also set up a new partnership with NHS England, HM prison services and other bodies to maximise treatment, prevention and enforcement to help people dealing with drug misuse. 

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones has set up a Pan Hampshire Combating Drugs Board, to bring together leaders and organisations to focus on the issue. 

Ms Jones said: "Drugs are often the root cause of anti-social behaviour; which as commissioner I know is an issue that many residents are concerned about. The government has just launched its strategy to clamp down on anti-social behaviour.

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"One of the plan’s commitments is banning the sale of nitrous oxide, or ‘laughing gas’ because of the links it has to young people’s health and offending behaviour. 

“In Hampshire, the police relentlessly prioritise cracking down on supply lines and exploitation. But this is only part of the solution, to truly combat the issue of drugs, we also need effective treatment, rehabilitation, and education."

There will now be an added focus on early intervention and education in the lives of young people to help lead to less exploitation, crime and pressure on public services. 

Basingstoke Gazette: Police are cracking down on drug misuse. Police are cracking down on drug misuse. (Image: PA)

The police know that there is a link between drug dependency and crime, but by breaking that cycle Ms Jones said she hopes to reduce crime and protect victims.

This includes the Drug Testing on Arrest initiative, which aims to identify people who misuse Class A drugs and commit crime to fund their habit and ensure they are steered out of crime and into treatment at the earliest opportunity

The Drug Testing on Arrest (DToA) was launched in Basingstoke Custody in October 2022.

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The pilot found that from October to December 2022:

  • 335 people were eligible to be tested (not all were tested due to having no indication of drug use to commit the offence or the offender was a child)
  • 261 were tested equating to almost 78%
  • 178 were trigger offenders with associated intelligence of suspected drug use
  • Police referred 157 offenders to commissioned treatment services to help deal with their addictions
  • Of those, 30 failed to attend their assessment (19%) with 26 being prosecuted.  Police believe that if treatment services were based in custody suites this figure would dramatically reduce. 

Following its initial success, the commissioner has provided £482k of funding from the Drug Confiscation Fund to enable the scheme to be rolled out more widely to all four Custody Centres in Hampshire from April 2023.