A pioneering programme that supports more than 5,000 people every year who are taken into police custody and found to be addicted to drugs and alcohol has been renewed by the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Simon Foster has funded the initiative for a number of years already, so life-changing drug and alcohol support can be offered to those who need it most.
The Arrest Referral Service, provided by the charity Cranstoun, is now set to expand following fresh investment from Commissioner Foster.
Thanks to its outstanding results in preventing crime and re-offending and tackling the root causes of crime, the programme will continue following a £1.3 million investment from the PCC.
Police, work in close partnership with treatment services, probation services and the courts. These evidence-based interventions are proven to reduce re-offending and help people break cycles of addiction and crime.
Specialist drug workers based directly in police custody suites have supported and referred thousands of people into treatment at a critical “reachable moment”. In addition, the team provides vital harm reduction advice and signposting support around housing and mental health.
Cranstoun has now teamed up with the charity St Giles so extra support can be provided by people who have first-hand experience of substance use or have been impacted by the criminal justice system.
Prevention and rehabilitation sit at the heart of Simon Foster’s Police and Crime Plan for 2025–2029. Initiatives such as the Arrest Referral Service are central to reducing the crime and harm caused by illegal drugs – while delivering value for the public purse.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster commented: “This programme shows exactly why prevention and rehabilitation must sit at the heart of modern policing. That is because it will always be better to prevent crime from happening in the first place, rather than having to deal with the consequences of crime.
“By intervening early, at the point of arrest, we are tackling the root causes of crime, cutting re-offending and delivering value for taxpayers.
“Custody can be a critical turning point in someone’s life. The Arrest Referral Service meets people at that moment and offers real support. By enhancing this service, we are giving more people the chance to access treatment, address addiction and rebuild their lives, reducing crime and harm for everyone in the West Midlands.”
Megan Jones, Director of New Business and Services at Cranstoun, said: “Our Arrest Referral Service in the West Midlands has changed thousands of lives and given so many people the chance to access the treatment and support needed to live healthier, safer and happier lives.
“Being able to reach people in police custody suites gives our drug workers the opportunity to make an important intervention, provide harm reduction advice, help people into drug treatment, and help to break the cycle of crime.
“We’re pleased to be working closely with St Giles Trust to make the service even more effective, and provide greater support for people who have struggled to access services previously.”
Meanwhile, Tracey Burley, Chief Executive of St Giles, added: “We are delighted to be working in collaboration with Cranstoun and West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner to deliver this vital work, harnessing the skills and insights of people with lived experience and using these to support others.
“With the right blend of community-based sentencing, support for addiction and other issues such as trauma and poverty, offending can be prevented, system costs reduced and outcomes improved.”
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