SUSPECTS held in police custody are to be swabbed for the presence of heroin and cocaine in a drive to steer drug users away from crime and into treatment.

A groundbreaking “Test On Arrest” scheme is underway in Durham force area in which police custody staff will take mouth swabs from people detained for certain “trigger” offences associated with drug use, such as burglary or shoplifting.

Anyone who fails the test, which can also detect traces of cannabis and amphetamines, will be required to attend two appointments with drug treatment teams.

If they refuse the test or fail to show up for treatment, the courts will be informed.

After a successful pilot project in Peterlee and Bishop Auckland, the policy has now been extended to cover the force’s other custody suites in Durham and Darlington.

In its first week in full operation, 40 tests have been carried out with what the force describes as “a number of positive results”.

Although similar trials have taken place across the country to test for Class A drugs, the Durham Constabulary scheme identifies other controlled substances, allowing police and health workers to help the user enter recovery at an early stage.

Police say drug addiction is a prime cause of “volume crime” such as thefts from vehicles, sheds, shoplifting and burglary and both Chief Constable Mike Barton and Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg say they believe tackling substance misuse will bring about long-term reductions in crime.

They say the initiative will help the force concentrate on dealing with drug suppliers, rather than users, and steer a significant number of users away from the criminal justice system and towards health services.

“The Drug Test on Arrest programme should bring about swifter access to treatment, will significantly reduce offending and help keep our communities safer," said Mr Barton.