Part 3Criminal justice

Arrested persons: drug testing and reference for assessment

85Assessment following positive test under section 20A of the 1995 Act

(1)

This section applies where—

(a)

a sample is provided or taken under section 20A of the 1995 Act by or from a person in custody in a police station; and

(b)

an analysis of the sample reveals that a relevant Class A drug is present in the person's body.

(2)

A constable must require the person to attend, and remain for the duration of, a drugs assessment.

(3)

A drugs assessment is an appointment with a suitably qualified person (“a drugs assessor”)—

(a)

for the purpose of establishing whether the person is dependent on, or has a propensity to misuse, any relevant Class A drug;

(b)

if the drugs assessor thinks that the person has such a dependency or propensity, for the purpose of establishing whether the person might benefit from assistance or treatment (or both) in connection with the dependency or propensity; and

(c)

if the drugs assessor thinks that the person might benefit from such assistance or treatment (or both), for the purpose of drawing up a document which sets out the nature of assistance or treatment (or both) which may be most appropriate for the person in connection with any dependency on, or propensity to misuse, a relevant Class A drug which the drugs assessor thinks the person has.