Transparency data

Data: Drug Testing on Arrest (DToA) programme (accessible)

Updated 29 May 2025

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These data tables were published on 29 May 2025, presenting Drug Testing on Arrest programme data for the period March 2022 to December 2024.

Data is provided by police forces in England and Wales in receipt of Drug Testing on Arrest funding from the Home Office.

For further information about the Drug Testing on Arrest programme data, please contact dtoa.datacollection@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Table 1: Number of reported total tests and positive tests for the period March 2022 to December 2024

Mar 2022 Apr to June 2022 July to Sept 2022 Oct to Dec 2022 Jan to Mar 2023 Apr to June 2023 July to Sept 2023 Oct to Dec 2023 Jan to March 2024 Apr to June 2024 July to Sept 2024 Oct to Dec 2024 Total Mar 2022 to Dec 2024
Total reported tests 3,599 10,393 10,565 11,129 12,217 15,720 16,889 18,091 19,224 18,872 18,524 19,191 174,414
Total reported positive tests 1,874 5,577 5,883 6,104 6,606 8,846 9,719 10,342 10,688 10,747 10,293 10,203 96,882
Positive test rate 52% 54% 56% 55% 54% 56% 58% 57% 56% 57% 56% 53% 56%
Average number of police forces returning data in the period 14 16 17 18 18 27 29 30 29 31 31 31 24

Table 2: Number of reported drug tests for the period March 2023 to December 2024, by trigger or non-trigger offence

Mar 2023 Apr to June 2023 July to Sept 2023 Oct to Dec 2023 Jan to Mar 2024 Apr to June 2024 July to Sept 2024 Oct to Dec 2024 Total Mar 2023 to Dec 2024
Tests following a trigger offence 3,025 10,233 12,407 14,508 15,970 16,554 15,800 15,911 104,408    
Tests following a non-trigger offence 407 1,695 1,745 2,184 2,242 1,797 1,791 1,653 13,514    
Not stated 1,335 3,792 2,737 1,399 1,012 521 933 1,627 13,356    
Total 4,767 15,720 16,889 18,091 19,224 18,872 18,524 19,191 131,278    
Average number of police forces returning data in the period 23 27 29 30 29 31 31 31 29    

Table 3: Number of reported total and positive tests for the period March 2023 to December 2024, by substance

Mar 2023 Apr to June 2023 July to Sept 2023 Oct to Dec 2023 Jan to Mar 2024 Apr to June 2024 July to Sept 2024 Oct to Dec 2024 Total Mar 2023 to Dec 2024
Total positive tests 2,597 8,846 9,719 10,342 10,688 10,747 10,293 10,203 73,435
Of which: Positive for cocaine 1,335 4,739 5,380 6,360 6,557 6,754 6,575 6,335 44,035
Positive for opiates 85 313 316 401 416 415 468 549 2,963
Positive for both cocaine and opiates 732 2,567 2,714 3,581 3,715 3,578 3,250 3,319 23,456
Positive (specific substance not provided) 445 1,227 1,309 - - - - - 2,981
Total negative tests 1,597 5,215 5,715 7,316 8,209 7,739 7,840 8,660 52,291
Test result not stated 509 1,455 1,223 49 34 87 113 41 3,511
Test refused or unable to test 64 204 232 384 293 299 278 287 2,041
Total number of reported tests 4,767 15,720 16,889 18,091 19,224 18,872 18,524 19,191 131,278
Average number of police forces returning data in the period 23 27 29 30 29 31 31 31 29

Table 4: Where available, number of reported referrals into assessment following a positive test for the period March 2023 to December 2024

These figures are based on optional referrals data provided for a limited sample of tests.

Mar 2023 Apr to June 2023 July to Sept 2023 Oct to Dec 2023 Jan to Mar 2024 Apr to June 2024 July to Sept 2024 Oct to Dec 2024 Total Mar 2023 to Dec 2024
Total positive tests 2,597 8,846 9,719 10,342 10,688 10,747 10,293 10,203 73,435
Total positive tests with referrals data available 867 3,692 5,338 6,283 6,842 7,222 6,290 6,240 42,774
Referral to assessment made 789 3,308 4,957 5,706 6,256 6,640 5,570 5,306 38,532
Referral rate 91% 90% 93% 91% 91% 92% 89% 85% 90%
Average number of police forces returning data in the period 10 15 20 22 22 25 26 26 22

Table 5: Where available, number of reported referrals into treatment made following a referral to assessment for the period March 2023 to December 2024

These figures are based on optional referrals data provided for a limited sample of tests.

Mar 2023 Apr to June 2023 July to Sept 2023 Oct to Dec 2023 Jan to Mar 2024 Apr to June 2024 July to Sept 2024 Oct to Dec 2024 Total Mar 2023 to Dec 2024
Reported referrals to assessment, where onwards treatment referral data is provided 163 442 1,144 1,245 1,366 1,372 1,109 1,202 8,043
Referral to treatment made, following referral to assesment 37 123 689 657 717 678 650 695 4,246
Referral rate 23% 28% 60% 53% 52% 49% 59% 58% 53%
Average number of police forces returning data in the period 3 5 6 7 9 9 7 9 7

Notes

  1. Prior to March 2023, data returns were provided by police forces on an aggregate basis and not all police forces provided complete data each month. Since March 2023, improvements have been made to the data return and more police forces now provide data on a more consistent basis. Since March 2023, data is now provided by police forces to the Home Office at the individual test record level.

  2. Different police forces have returned data in different periods during the data collection and therefore these figures should not be treated as a complete reflection of all testing activity. Part of the increase in testing figures can be explained by more police forces returning data to the Home Office, as well as by increases in testing in individual forces. A total of 36 police forces have returned data at any point between March 2022 and December 2024 (including some nil returns), and the average number of police forces reporting data in each quarter are shown in the tables.

  3. Table 1 presents data from March 2022 onwards, whilst tables 2-5 begin at March 2023 when more detailed outcomes data became available.

  4. March 2022 was the month by which all 2021/22 Home Office funding had been provided to police forces. It is therefore included before the subsequent quarters for completeness in Table 1. Similarly, the new data returns process commenced in March 2023, which is therefore included for completeness before the subsequent quarters in Tables 2-5.

  5. Data relates to the number of tests conducted, rather than the number of individuals tested. This is because the same individuals may be repeatedly tested.

  6. Drug tests can be conducted following a trigger offence, or with an Inspector바카라 사이트™s Authority following a non-trigger offence. Trigger offences are predominantly acquisitive crimes, such as burglary, robbery, and taking a motor vehicle without authority.

  7. At present, individuals can be tested for the presence of cocaine or certain opiates only. Table 3 presents the results of drug tests by substance found.

  8. Referrals data is currently optional for police forces to provide. Therefore the referral figures presented in Tables 4 and 5 are based on a limited sample of overall test records provided by police forces and the referral rates should be treated as indicative only.

  9. Data is collected by the Home Office on a monthly basis, and police forces occasionally update their previous returns. Therefore the figures may not match those previously published.

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