What is the Drug Interventions Programme?
The Drug Interventions Programme - DIP - is a key part of the Welsh Assembly Government [WAG] and UK Governments Home Office strategy for tackling drugs and reducing crime. And it’s working: drug-related crime has fallen by a fifth since DIP started and record numbers of people are being helped with their drug misuse.
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 Wales, while additional “intensive” elements operate in those areas with the highest acquisitive crime.
Some interventions operate right across Wales, while additional “intensive” elements operate in those areas, Cardiff and Swansea in South Wales, 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’.
DIP provides new ways of working as well as linking existing ones across the criminal justice system, healthcare and drug treatment services and a range of other supporting services.
DIP has introduced a case-management approach to offer offenders treatment and support from the point of arrest to beyond sentencing. Sharing information on the treatment needs of individual offenders allows professional multi-skilled Criminal Justice Integrated Teams [CJIT’s] to provide tailored solutions.
DIP is a regionally commissioned service in South Wales.
DIP funding in Wales is devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government. In Wales, DIP services are commissioned on a regional basis in South Wales, Dyfed - Powys, Gwent and North Wales. DIP in South Wales is overseen by an Executive Regional Management Board [ERMB] made up of key partnership agencies from criminal justice, health, and Welsh Assembly Government and Community Safety Partnership representatives.
A Regional Management Team is responsible in each contract area for the effective commissioning and performance management of DIP services in these areas.
For more information on DIP see: www.drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk
A 24 Hour free helpline is available 7 days a week to provide bi-lingual Welsh/English information and help to drug users and their families / friends - 0800 6335588
Further information for families is available at www.wiredinitiative.com
There are four DIP regions in Wales:
South Wales DIP covers the local authority areas of:
- Cardiff
- Rhondda-Cynon-Taff
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Swansea
- Neath / Port Talbot
- Bridgend
It is a densely populated area with a diverse and growing population. 50% of the population of Wales lives within its geographic boundaries.
Should you require information in a language other than Welsh or English please e-mail the regional DIP team at DIP@cardiff.gov.uk and we will try to ensure you receive appropriate information to address your needs.