The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) is the key government initiative to address drug related crime by engaging drug users in treatment and offering wraparound support to help the offender deal with other issues in their lives. Since its introduction in 2004 acquisitive crime, which is largely related to substance misuse, has fallen by 32%.
Dyfed Powys DIP Consortium
Prism is the contract holder and lead agency of a consortium that provides the DIP service in Dyfed Powys. The consortium comprises:
Prism (Service delivery in Carmarthenshire & Pembrokeshire)
Cyswllt Contact (Service delivery in Ceredigion)
Kaleidoscope (Service delivery in Powys & a rapid access prescribing service in Carmarthenshire)
Prism also undertakes the financial and performance management roles for the consortium.
DIP’s Aims
The scheme aims to respond to the needs of a hardcore of drug related offenders who are responsible for levels of crime disproportionate to their numbers and who usually have a poor record of engaging in treatment or have never sought help.
Studies have shown that for every £1 spent on DIP, more than £9.50 is saved in terms of the victim costs of crime and the demands on the criminal justice system.
By working in partnership with criminal justice agencies, particularly the Police, Probation and the prison service DIP staff can give drug related offenders the opportunity to access not only drug treatment, including substitute prescribing, but also to support services to help them deal with other problems in their lives that might hamper their progress or trigger a relapse if left unaddressed.
Once the offender’s lifestyle becomes more stable, they can be referred into mainstream treatment and other appropriate services.
Key Elements of DIP
Rapid engagement: DIP can almost always begin treatment with a new referral within three working days.
Continuity of care: Cases who leave the area or go to into custody are passed on to the local drug teams.
Interagency working and information sharing: DIP works jointly with all criminal justice agencies to help people access treatment and to ensure a client’s progress is recognised.
Holistic approach: DIP works jointly with a wide range of other services to ensure the client’s progress in dealing with their drug issues are backed up by support and help with any other problems they may be experiencing. This maximises the chances of lifestyle change being carried on into the longer term
Referral into DIP
Most referrals come into DIP via the Police, Probation or the prisons. If, however, a person has a drug problem and is currently in contact with the criminal justice system, they are eligible to be referred into the service and can access the service by phoning their local DIP team (contact numbers below).
Tough Choices
In Carmarthenshire, DIP is strengthened by the additional referral source of Tough Choices. Following arrest for defined trigger offences, arrestees are tested for Class A drugs and, if the result is positive, will be required to attend one or more assessment sessions and may be required to attend treatment sessions as a condition of being given bail.
In its short time of operation Tough Choices has proved to be a highly successful and valuable element of DIP, helping to engage large numbers of Class A drug-users in treatment who would otherwise be unlikely to do so.
If you have any further queries please contact DIP.
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