PEOPLE arrested on suspicion of drug related crimes in Essex will be tested as part of a new scheme.
Thousands of crimes costing millions of pounds are linked to drug use in Essex every year.
The Home Office has given Essex Police a £718,000 grant for a scheme called Drug Testing on Arrest to combat the problem.
Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston said: “Class A drug users often commit a significant proportion of acquisitive crime.
“The programme aims to identify whether a person arrested on suspicion of certain offences is a Class A drug user, and if so facilitate their access to treatment.
“The evidence shows successful treatment for drug misuse will significantly reduce re-offending, and keep our communities safer.”
The programme will be run for two years and include evaluation by Essex University.
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