The Drug Interventions Programme [DIP] is a key part of the Police and Crime Commissioners strategy for tackling drugs and reducing crime.
Originally developed by the Home Office and introduced in Wales In 2005, DIP aims to get adult drug-misusing offenders out of crime and into treatment and other support. Some interventions operate right across North Wales, while additional ‘intensive’ elements operate in those areas with the highest acquisitive crime.
The aim of DIP is ‘to increase participation of problem drug users, including prisoners, in drug treatment programmes which have a positive impact on health and crime’.
Key elements of the Drug Intervention Programme include — Arrest Referral services including the delivery of ‘Tough Choices’ enhanced services for ‘intensive’ areas, the provision of community based services and prison in reach provision.
The research evidence linking substance misuse and certain types of offending is well established, as is the potential for effective treatment to reduce levels of offending.
DIP is a regionally commissioned service in North Wales. The programme is managed by a North Wales Community Justice Integrated Services Board [CJISB], which is made up of key partnership agencies from, Criminal Justice, Welsh Assembly Government and Community Safety Partnership representatives and holds strong links to the North Wales Area Planning Board for Substance Misuse.
The Regional Management Team [RMT] is responsible for the strategic performance, financial and contractual management of DIP.
The Service Provider will consider locally prevailing structures in Criminal Justice, Health and other related fields when considering an application to deliver any element of the Drug Interventions Programme in North Wales.
Substance Misuse Court Orders.
Wales has a long history of the delivery of services to support offenders subject to substance misuse related court orders (Drug Rehabilitation Orders and Alcohol Treatment Orders) sitting alongside the Drug Intervention Programme — recognising that both elements may well form part of an individuals treatment journey and allowing for the delivery of seamless care across a range of interventions.
As a key part of the portfolio of NOMS Cymru, the delivery of the support element of these orders plays a key part in supporting the National Probation Service (NPS) and Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) in addressing substance related risk factors for re-offending.
NOMS Cymru are currently exploring co-commissioning options for this group of services, and as such, delivery of these may form part of the specification for this contract.