More than 5,000 people a year will receive drug and alcohol treatment in custody. This follows a fresh £1.3 million investment from West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster.

The funding extends the Arrest Referral Service, run by the charity Cranstoun. Specialist drug workers are placed directly inside police custody suites. They meet people at the point of arrest, when someone may be most ready to accept help.

Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Custody at a Critical Moment

Early intervention is one of the most cost-effective ways to cut reoffending. People who receive structured support are more likely to engage with ongoing services. They are also less likely to return to crime.

The Arrest Referral Service has operated in the West Midlands for several years. PCC Foster has backed it consistently. Thousands of people have been referred into treatment during that time. They have also received harm reduction advice and support around housing and mental health. These are issues that often sit at the root of substance misuse and offending.

The service works closely with treatment providers, probation services and the courts. It takes a whole-system approach. The goal is to tackle the causes of crime, not just respond to them.

Arrest Referral Service Gains Lived Experience Support

Cranstoun has now partnered with St Giles Trust as part of this investment. St Giles specialises in supporting people through those with first-hand experience of substance use or the criminal justice system.

Megan Jones, Director of New Business and Services at Cranstoun, welcomed the expanded partnership. She said the service had already changed thousands of lives. The new collaboration, she added, would help reach people who had previously struggled to access support.

“Being able to reach people in police custody suites gives our drug workers the opportunity to make an important intervention,” she said. “We help people into drug treatment and help to break the cycle of crime.”

Tracey Burley, Chief Executive of St Giles, pointed to the value of combining community sentencing with addiction support. She said attention to trauma and poverty was equally important. Together, she argued, these approaches prevent offending, reduce system costs and improve outcomes.

Prevention is Central to the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan

Simon Foster has put prevention and rehabilitation at the heart of his Police and Crime Plan for 2025 to 2029. Renewed investment in drug and alcohol treatment in custody reflects that commitment.

“By intervening early, at the point of arrest, we are tackling the root causes of crime,” Foster said. “We are cutting reoffending 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.”

The Commissioner said more people would now have the chance to address addiction and rebuild their lives. That, he said, reduces crime and harm for everyone across the West Midlands.

The wider case for this kind of investment is strong. Drug misuse costs England and Wales an estimated £20 billion every year, according to government figures. Illegal drug use is closely linked to acquisitive crime, domestic abuse and serious offending. Programmes that provide drug and alcohol treatment in custody help address that harm at its source.

The Arrest Referral Service shows what is possible when police, health services and charities work together. It is a practical, proven approach to breaking cycles of addiction and crime.

Source: dbrecoveryresources