Alcohol Arrest Referral
What is the Alcohol Arrest Referral project?
This project is being delivered in Central Lancashire (Preston, Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire) as a pilot until August 2009.
The project aims to provide advice, information and support to young people and adults who are arrested and in custody due to alcohol related offending.
The project gives individuals the opportunity to speak with an experienced and independent alcohol worker.
The worker, who has a lot of experience working with drug and alcohol users, can support individuals by offering help and advice like:
- Signposting and referral into other services who can help
- Providing information and advice
- Offering alcohol consumption and harm reduction advice
- One to one support, counselling and group work
- Referral into treatment services
- Assessment
- Referral to out of area services
- Dedicated support for street sex workers
Engagement with the Alcohol Arrest Referral pilot by the individual is on a voluntary basis.
This project works from three Custody Suites in Central Lancashire Custody in Preston, Leyland and Skelmersdale. The project is delivered by a range of service providers including Addiction Dependency Solutions (ADS), Addaction, Young Addaction, Streetlink and Lancashire Care Foundation Trust (LCFT) to facilitate a range of interventions based upon individual need through the use of screening, assessment, feedback and referral and signposting to services.
This pilot provides a fast-track dedicated resource and pathway to clients arrested due to alcohol related offending including sex workers in Preston.
This is a unique project, accessed on a voluntary basis by the individuals and providing a holistic wrap-around service to target both weekend drinkers through to the most entrenched drinkers, including those involved with domestic violence and sex work.
Who is it for?
- Anyone who is 10 years of age or older who is arrested for an alcohol related offence in Central Lancashire, whether they are already involved with services or not
- Young People will be referred to the dedicated Substance Misuse service
- Those individuals who reside outside of Lancashire Boundaries can still be seen by the worker and may be referred to an appropriate service out of area.
What about confidentiality?
This is a confidential service except where the following circumstances apply;
- where there is a risk of potential or significant harm to you and others - this would include child protection and vulnerable adult issues
- where there is a legal obligation to provide information, eg a court request
Any information that you share with the Alcohol Arrest Referral Worker will remain confidential and will not be disclosed to the police or any third party without your written consent. The exception to this rule is where you inform the Arrest Referral worker of a serious criminal offence which has been, or may be committed or where there is risk of harm to yourself or others.
How and when is the project available?
Preston Police Station
Friday - Sunday
0600 - 1100
Leyland Police Station
Saturday - Sunday
0600 - 1100
Skelmersdale Police Station
The experienced alcohol worker will offer information and advice relating to your alcohol use and will offer an assessment interview whilst in custody, and if suitable will arrange a follow up appointment after leaving custody.
Useful telephone numbers for help and advice:
Young People's Substance Misuse Services
Young Addaction - Tel: 01772 255307
Adult Community Support Services
Inward House - Tel: 01257 267742
ADS - Tel: 01772 561300
Drugline - Tel: 01772 253840
Streetlink/Foxton Centre - Tel: 01772 555925
Adult Substance Misuse Treatment Teams:
West Lancashire SMS - Tel: 01695 50740
Preston SMS - Tel: 01772 676000
Chorley/Leyland SMS - Tel: 01772 773540
Other useful numbers
Preston Homeless Team - Tel: 01772 325090
Domestic Violence Helpline - Tel: 01772 201601
Preston Urban Exchange - Tel: 01772 255300
What are the main outcomes and measures of the project?
- a reduction in offending of the individuals engaged with the pilot
- a reduction in alcohol/drug consumption
- a reduction in re-offending rates across Central Lancashire
- a general improvement in the health of the individuals engaged with the pilot
- improved access to services and referrals on to relevant services
- a reduction in the rate of increase in alcohol related hospital admissions
For more information on the Alcohol Arrest Referral pilot project, please contact the Administration Section at the LDAAT: telephone 01772 777065 or use the Contact Us section of this website.