Nino Maddalena Criminal Justice Manager National Treatment Agency

Overview The problem Why should we be concerned about drug related crime? The evidence How do we know that drug treatment can make a difference? What’s been achieved? 11 years on from the first 10 year strategy Where do we go from here? What threats and opportunities does the future hold?

Why it’s everybody’s problem? If you are a taxpayer you will pick up part of the annual £15.4bn bill for the crime and health costs generated by people buying and using Class A drugs such as heroin and crack If you are a victim of crime there is a strong chance it will be drug-related. Estimates suggest that between a third and a half of all acquisitive crime (shoplifting, burglary, vehicle crime, robbery, etc) is drug-related. Around three-quarters of heroin and crack users say they commit crime to fund their habit The community you live in can be badly affected in a number of ways, from the antisocial behaviour associated with drug dealing, the activities of those under the influence of drugs (including discarded needles), the violence associated with organised crime, and prostitution.

Treatment effectiveness The National Treatment Outcome Research Study (NTORS) followed more than 1,000 problem drug users through treatment It recorded significant reductions in offending, with rates of acquisitive crime falling by half at the one-year point. These improvements were maintained at various follow-up points. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) suggests the health and crime cost of each injecting drug user is £480,000 over a lifetime. For every £1 spent on drug treatment £9.50 was saved on economic, health and social costs associated with drug misuse

Evidence of effectiveness of CJ interventions Arrest Referral Schemes 1 and the Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTO) 2 which showed that the average amount pent on drugs fell from £400 per week at the start of the intervention to £25 per week at the follow up stage More than1 in 4 of those starting a new episode of treatment in England are referred by staff working in the criminal justice system

Stop press…… This study matches data from the Police National Computer (PNC) with the NTA’s National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) database on a sample of opiate and crack users who had recently offended but had not been jailed and had started treatment in the community. The number of offences committed almost halved following the start of treatment and the results were very much in line with the studies that had been based on self report information

Where we came from? 2001 – Arrest Referral (monthly) 2000 assessments – England and Wales 460 (25%) engage in treatment Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO) 2001/02 - 4,854 commencements Limited target group Proscriptive and inflexible – 20 hours Accredited programme required

What’s been achieved in the community? Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) Criminal Justice Integrated Teams (CJITs) Testing on arrest Required assessments Restrictions on bail Rapid access to treatment Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRRs) Every week, over 1,000 drug- misusing offenders are engaged in treatment via DIP HO research followed group of 7,727 DIP clients and found that half showed a 79% reduction in offending over a 6 month period Overall volume of offending was 26% lower following DIP identification Number of DRRs increased from 4,854 in 2001/02 to 16,607 in 2007/08 in 2007/08. Completion rates 28% in % in 2007/08

A work in progress – more to be done Implementing the DIP review Continuity of care System Change Pilots – more joined up, more efficient, more effective Integrated Offender Management – addressing the reintegration agenda and delivering case management