The Drug Interventions Programme began in 2003 as an integral part of the Government’s 2002 updated Drug Strategy.  It has the principal focus of reducing drug related crime and its consequences.

The programme aims to offer access to appropriate drug treatment for all offenders at every stage of the criminal justice system, from arrest through the courts, to sentencing and beyond.

The programme brings together key partner agencies such as the Police, Courts, Prison Service, Probation Service, Government Departments, Drug and Alcohol Action Teams, treatment providers, and aftercare support services in an integrated world first.

Throughout Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, the Drug Interventions Programme is delivered through a partnership arrangement by the Police, the Probation Service and Addaction. These organisations work together under the umbrella title of the Criminal Justice Drugs Team. The partner agencies operate a tailored approach to ensure that every point of the criminal justice process is utilised to engage drug misusing offenders into structured, supported drug treatment.

The team works in tandem with a specialist offender management unit which undertakes the supervision of community orders and post custody licences.

Services which can be accessed via the Criminal Justice Drugs Team include:

• access to drug treatment via police custody suites
• specialist/substitute prescribing
• court provision of civilian drugs workers
• assertive outreach
• recreational users harm reduction programme
• prison in-reach/post custody support
• one to one structured support
• harm reduction advice
• therapeutic group work
• complementary therapies
• activity groups
• onward referral to additional services, such as housing, employment and training.

For further information regarding the Criminal Justice Drugs Team and the Drug Interventions Programme, please contact: