Southampton Reducing Drug Harm Partnership 2024/25 Delivery Plan

Introduction

Background

On 6th December 2021, in response to Dame Carol Black's review, the Government published their ten-year drug strategy 'From Harm to Hope: A ten-year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives¹. The strategy has an ambition to reduce drug use to an overall 10-year low, and includes three core priorities, to:

Break the drug supply chain
Deliver a world class treatment and recovery system
Achieve a shift in the demand for recreational drugs

The strategy is supported by an increase in investment (nearly £900 million) with expected outcomes nationally by 2024 to include:

Preventing nearly 1,000 deaths
Delivering around 54,500 new high-quality drug and alcohol treatment places
Contributing to the prevention of three quarters of a million crimes
Closing over 2,000 more county lines
Increasing disruption of illegal drug supply activities
Reversing the rising trend on drug use and to reduce overall use towards a 30 year low.

Guidance² setting out how Local Authorities should work to implement this strategy were subsequently published. This guidance included the requirement to set up a ‘Combatting Drug Partnership’. In Southampton, this partnership is called our ‘Reducing Drug Harm Partnership’.

Southampton ‘Reducing Drug Harm Partnership’ (RDHP) has been convened with the following aims;

To bring together senior leaders and organisations to oversee and support the implementation and meet the requirements of the National Drug Strategy.
To provide leadership and strategic oversight, working collaboratively across agencies to reduce drug and alcohol harm through accessible, evidence based, harm reduction focussed, high quality, effective and person-centred drug and alcohol prevention, treatment, recovery, and enforcement systems across Southampton

1 - From harm to hope: A 10-year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives

2 - Guidance for local delivery partners

Local Need

Needs assessment

We were tasked with delivering a needs assessment, at speed, to inform our work. We found:

Drug Use

Southampton experiences similar prevalence rates of adult opiate drug use when compared with England and regionally.
Southampton experiences greater rates of crack use when compared England and regionally.
An estimated 6,550^* people aged 18-24 used any drug within the last year.
An estimated 10,500^* people aged 18-59 used any drug within the last year.
593 children live with an adult with an opiate dependency.
It is estimated that 66,000 adults are affected by the drug or alcohol use of someone they know

Drug Related Deaths

Data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) evidence Southampton has a similar rate of ‘Drug Misuse’ Deaths when compared with England and ranks 9^th highest among the 15 comparator UTLAs with within the fourth more deprived decile
Local Audits of DRD evidences a decreasing trend of drug related deaths with total number of deaths that occurred within 2020 in Southampton at its lowest point since 2013.
Men aged over 35, particularly those in their 40s and 50s and who use heroin in combination with other depressant (benzodiazepines, alcohol, pregabalin) drugs continue to be at most risk

Drug Related Crime

Southampton has a significantly higher rate of police recorded drug offences when compared with England.
Southampton ranked 5^th highest among comparator Community Safety Partnerships for the rate of drug offences. (NB The number of drug offences recorded by the police is heavily dependent on police activities and priorities)
Data evidences a strong link between drug offences and deprivation
Southampton experiences more active drug networks than any other area in Hampshire
Southampton experiences more possession offences than any other area in Hampshire and we can see an increasing trend

Unmet need

In 2020 – 21

66% of the estimated 1210 people in Southampton estimated to use opiates were engaged in structured treatment. Our unmet need is 34%. (England = 47%)
52% of the estimated 1124 people in Southampton use crack cocaine were engaged in structured treatment. Our unmet need is 48%. (England = 58%)
53% of the estimated 1452 people in Southampton use opiates and/ or crack cocaine were engaged in structured treatment. Our unmet need is 47%. (England = 53%)

Support

Requires focus on engagement of, and outcomes for young people and adults with non-opiate use
Successful completions are improving. Requires further consideration with a particular focus on Young People and people who use non-opiates

Gaps in intelligence

Prevalence of non-dependent drug use
Youth Offending
Activity to address drug dealing networks and drug crime
Evidence of the effectiveness of diversion from drug crime into treatment and support
Public Involvement & lived experience

Delivery Plan

Local delivery plan

As the RDHP, we are tasked with developing a local ‘Delivery Plan’ to reduce drug-related harm. The three national core priorities are associated commitments are.

Break drug supply chains

Targeting the ‘middle market’ – breaking the ability of gangs to supply drugs wholesale to neighbourhood dealers
Going after the money – disrupting drug gang operations and seizing their cash
Rolling up county lines – bringing perpetrators to justice, safeguarding and supporting victims, and reducing violence and homicide
Tackling the retail market – improving targeting of local drug gangs and street dealing
Restricting the supply of drugs into prisons – applying technology and skills to improve security and detection

Deliver a world-class treatment and recovery system

Delivering world-class treatment and recovery services – strengthening local authority commissioned substance misuse services for both adults and young people, and improving quality, capacity and outcomes
Strengthening the professional workforce – developing and delivering a comprehensive substance misuse workforce strategy
Ensuring better integration of services – making sure that people’s physical and mental health needs are addressed to reduce harm and support recovery, and joining up activity to maximise impact across criminal justice, treatment, broader health and social care, and recovery
Improving access to accommodation alongside treatment – access to quality treatment for everyone sleeping rough, and better support for accessing and maintaining secure and safe housing
Improving employment opportunities – linking employment support and peer support to Jobcentre Plus services
Increasing referrals into treatment in the criminal justice system – specialist drug workers delivering improved outreach and support treatment requirements as part of community sentences so offenders engage in drug treatment
Keeping people engaged in treatment after release from prison – improving engagement of people before they leave prison and ensuring better continuity of care in the community

Achieve a generational shift in the demand for drugs

Applying tougher and more meaningful consequences – ensuring there are local pathways to identify and change the behaviour of people involved in activities that cause drug-related harm
Delivering school-based prevention and early intervention – ensuring that all pupils receive a co-ordinated and coherent programme of evidence-based interventions to reduce the chances of them using drugs
Supporting young people and families most at risk of substance misuse or criminal exploitation – co-ordinating early, targeted support to reduce harm within families that is sensitive to all the needs of the person or family and seeks to address the root causes of risk

Our local delivery plan for each of the 15 national commitments, including details of progress made in 2023 and our plans for 2024/25, follows on the next page.

Breaking drug supply chains

Local delivery plan

Number	Commitment	Lead Agency	Position at Strategy Implementation	Progress Jan-Dec 2023	Plan for 2024/25
1.	Targeting the ‘middle market’ – breaking the ability of gangs to supply drugs wholesale to neighbourhood dealers	Police	‘Drug-related harm’ is a Force control strategy area, ensuring a focus of work within this area across all relevant commands. There are good existing relationships at a local and regional level, targeting middle market supply within the Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) space.	County lines dedicated unit County lines week. Weeks of action throughout the year, resulting in significant arrests/ seizures/ disruptions OP MILLIE- National dedicated response to Cannabis factories and OCG’s behind them. Priority Crime team- now recruited and active Partnership engagement to ensure relevant intelligence identified and shared as appropriate and maximise opportunities to identify those subject to exploitation.	Provide a consistent cross strand and multi-agency response to Class A Drugs under Fortress, sharing appropriate information regularly with partner agencies and other Law Enforcement Agencies Target high harm dealers working in partnership with colleagues from the South-East Regional Organised Crime Unit and other police forces
2.	Going after the money – disrupting drug gang operations and seizing their cash	Police	Cash seizures/retention forms part of the Investigation Command Delivery Plan, driving performance improvements regarding outcomes in drugs investigations	Significant cash seizures throughout 2023 in Southampton. Not possible to detail figure breakdown for Southampton.	Training of frontline and investigation officers / staff in relation to powers around seizure and process.
3.	Rolling up county lines – bringing perpetrators to justice, safeguarding and supporting victims, and reducing violence and homicide	Police	Use of OROCHI³ model to coordinate between London, regional policing and local Constabulary to develop intelligence and operational activity. Dedicated team of 6 officers + 2 intel officers (for entire HIOW Force area) to focus on disruption. Op Fortress – maintain information gathering from agencies and communities that helps identify vulnerable people. Monthly meeting and strategy set in relation to management of vulnerable people/addresses	CLIW continues to produce significant results: . Oct 2023 Arrests 20 Address searches: 13 Weapons Seized : 11 Cash Seizure: £5,700 Disruptions: 3 County lines identified and disrupted	Work in partnership with other agencies to identify vulnerable persons at risk of cuckooing or exploitation into drug running and seek diversion options Where appropriate, use of National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for persons believed to have been trafficked or exploited Early intervention, working with partners to prevent young people taking or supplying drugs. Drugs Intervention Programme (DIP) and Arrest Referral Workers for those who come into custody. Target those people who use drugs who persistently cause harm in their community
4.	Tackling the retail market – improving targeting of local drug gangs and street dealing	Police	Dedicated Priority Crime Team resource within Southampton District, who provide capability for focusing on street level disruptions. Op Fortress tackles the cuckooing of vulnerable individuals (as above)	Priority Crime team- now established and active- targeting networks and high-risk criminality Dedicated intelligence gathering team- focused on County Lines targeting and disruption CPI reports have increased, in relation to DRH.	Expand ability to target networks and be more efficient in tasking and recording disruptions. Op Fortress tracker to measure increase / decrease in demand and risk, following targeted police action. Reduction in vulnerability, harm, and commission.
5.	Restricting the supply of drugs into prisons – applying technology and skills to improve security and detection	OPCC/ ICU	NB: Southampton does not host any secure estate provision	N/A

MPS County Lines Operations Centre

Deliver a world-class treatment and recovery system

Local delivery plan

Number	Commitment	Lead Agency	Current position	Progress Jan-Dec 2023	Plan for 2024/25
1.	Strengthening local authority commissioned substance use services for both adults and young people, and improving quality, capacity and outcomes	ICU	Plan for the SSMTRG (Supplemental Grant) funding submitted to OHID and agreed. (partner only version) The Supplemental Grant has enabled us to increase staffing in Substance Use Disorder Services (SUDS) to increase quality, capacity and reduce caseloads in the following areas: Young peoples SUDS Criminal Justice Alcohol treatment LGTBQ+ Peer support services Increased funding for residential rehabilitation for offenders and for Rough Sleepers (as part of the Rough Sleeper drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant. Successful completions – move to use of the Treatment Progress measure. Increase the number of service users who have successfully completed, who are not using problem substances and who have substantially reduced their use of problem substances. Increase the numbers in treatment Reduce the number of Drug Related Deaths	Drug Related Death Prevention Plan refreshed and agreed at DATP Workforce: The staffing proposed as part of the Supplemental Grant have been largely recruited, although there have been on-going difficulties in recruiting well qualified and experienced staff. This has proved to be a national problem, with all Local Authorities reporting similar difficulties. The new staff have enabled providers to increase capacity as evidenced by a rise in numbers in treatment and caseloads have been reduced, although work is on-going in this respect. Independent Peer Support Service – the procurement for the new independent peer support service failed to attract any providers to bid. Alternative strategies for growing a vibrant and robust independent service are currently being explored. Residential Rehabilitation – Both the SMTRG and RSDATG have funded additional residential rehabilitation placements in 2022/23 and 2023/24. This has enabled Southampton to increase the number of placements from the baseline and achieve the target agreed with OHID. Treatment Progress – this measure is reported on monthly via the National Drug Treatment Monitoring Service (NDTMS). Southampton is performing well against this measure – achieving 45% of service users who are showing substantial progress against a National Average of 47% Comparator Local Authorities: Bristol – 44% Plymouth – 51% Portsmouth – 34% Swindon - 32% Increase numbers in treatment – The number of adults in treatment has risen by 21% since the baseline date of December 2021 (308 people)	DRD Prevention Sub-group of DATP will be established to implement DRD Prevention Plan Continue to increase numbers in treatment. Establish a Lived Experience Recovery Organisation. Continue to promote access to detox and residential rehabilitation. Increase the number of people who achieve substantial progress with their substance use treatment.
2.	Strengthening the professional workforce – developing and delivering a comprehensive substance use workforce strategy	ICU/SUDS	The adult service provider has a comprehensive national workforce plan in place which has been shared with commissioners and can be provided if required. The Young Peoples provider has indicated that they are moving to a talent management and development plan. This is localised to teams and individuals. The provider carries out annual personal development plans that are reviewed quarterly for each individual. The staff member then has access to a variety of training courses that can include NVQ type courses and degrees.	Both adult and young people’s substance use disorder services have increased the number of specialist drug and alcohol support workers and have thereby increased capacity of the service and improved access for service users. Both providers have a comprehensive training and development requirements for the work force to undertake. Commissioners track staff training and development as part of the quarterly contract monitoring meetings.	Continue to ensure that provider workforce plans are in place and all staff are fully trained in specialist drug and alcohol interventions
3.	Ensuring better integration of services – making sure that people’s physical and mental health needs are addressed to reduce harm and support recovery, and joining up activity to maximise impact across criminal justice, treatment, broader health and social care, and recovery	SCC (ICU)	In-reach worker to Antelope and Natalie House (co-occurring conditions. MH and SUDS Partnership group Criminal Justice Intervention Team Continuity of Care group working with probation and local prison Work with local pharmacists to reduce risk of unplanned closures including a protocol for use when unexpected closures are threatened. Work with ICB and Primary care re treatment for those experiencing difficulties with prescribed medication.	In-reach worker to Antelope and Natalie House (co-occurring conditions) MH and SUDS Partnership group Criminal Justice Intervention Team Continuity of Care group working with probation and local prison Work with local pharmacists to reduce risk of unplanned closures including a protocol for use when unexpected closures are threatened. Work with ICB and Primary care re treatment for those experiencing difficulties with prescribed medication.	Work to establish a Primary Care Drug and Alcohol outreach team Focus on improving care for people with cooccurring MH and SUDs incl a revies of provision against guidelines and via ICB ‘No Wrong Door’ Increase In-reach worker to 1 FTE to include work with Forest Lodge. Increase the capacity of the CJIT and reduce caseload size
4.	Improving access to accommodation alongside treatment – access to quality treatment for everyone sleeping rough, and better support for accessing and maintaining secure and safe housing	SCC (ICU)	Rough Sleeper Drug and Alcohol Outreach Team – working with those who are rough sleeping and those at risk of rough sleeping in partnership with SCC Housing Related Support processes. The Rough Sleeper Drug and Alcohol Outreach team is funded by DLUCH through the Rough Sleeper Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant. The grant was awarded in 2021. As with the work funded via the Supplemental Grant recruitment has proved challenging. Most roles for the team have now been filled although the appointment of a Nurse Prescriber is still to occur.	The Rough Sleeper Enhanced Outreach Team is in place and is achieving and exceeding all KPI’s. Funding is in place until 31.3.25. Risk of reduced funding or failure to continue the grant in 2025/26 should be noted.	Continue to work jointly with all Rough Sleeper Initiatives in Southampton and with other partner organisations.
5.	Improving employment opportunities – linking employment support and peer support to Jobcentre Plus services	SCC (ICU incl. links to JCP) JCP/ DWP	Individual Placement Service project working with adult and YP SUDS Independent Peer Support Service to be commissioned in 2023/24 – will work alongside services to encourage and support service users with employment opportunities.	IPS Service continues to work positively with SUDS and achieving positive results throughout 2023 Increased numbers of referrals Increased number accessing service Increased number of Job starts	Continue into 2024/25 (Until March 2025 when the funding concludes)
6.	Increasing referrals into treatment in the criminal justice system – specialist drug workers delivering improved outreach and support treatment requirements as part of community sentences so offenders engage in drug treatment	SUDS (incl links Police/ Probation/ ICU)	CJIT team working closely with NPS, local prisons and police	In 2023/24 the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has funded a new post located within the CJIT. This is the Drug Testing on Arrest worker, whose role is the follow up of people who have tested positive to drugs when arrested for certain “in-scope” offences. New worker in role. CGL have delivered 284 assessments. Results so far appear positive but further data is being gathered. The CJIT caseload has grown rapidly since the team was first implemented. This has required the expansion and development of the team. There are currently over 200 offenders on the caseload – all representing service users with multiple issues contributing to their complexity and vulnerability – i.e. mental health, substance use, offending, ACE’s, physical health issues, domestic abuse, sex working etc. The CJIT team continues to work closely and collaboratively with the National probation Service and all of the “local” prison establishments	The CJIT will continue to increase its capacity and to develop relevant specialisms in order to deal with the high levels of complexity within the service user population. Two additional Recovery co-ordinators will be funded in 2024/25 by the SSMTRG. Continuity of Care will continue to improve, increasing to 60% by the end of 24/25.
7.	Keeping people engaged in treatment after release from prison – improving engagement of people before they leave prison and ensuring better continuity of care in the community	SUDS (links to Probation & Prisons)	Continuity of Care group – some improvement noted but further work required.	The CJIT Project Manager has worked closely and intensively this year with all partners and stakeholders in order to establish effective pathways into community treatment from prison. An audit was carried out with HMP Winchester and with the NDTMS team. Prisons have been contacted and a network of contacts established to ensure effective communication for offenders going into custody from the community and from the prison back to the community. Providers, commissioners, and Public Health colleagues attended and contributed to a CoC event coordinated by OPCC There has been evidenced, substantial improvement in the percentage of prison leavers with a continued treatment need picked up in the community within three weeks. This has increased from a low baseline of 14% in March 2022 to 34% over a 12-month rolling period in November 2023. Even more encouraging is the rolling 3-month period where we have achieved 68%	Maintain improvements, pathway and oversight

Achieve a generational shift in the demand for drugs

Local delivery plan

Number	Commitment	Lead Agency	Current position	Progress Jan-Dec 2023	Plan for 2024
1.	Applying tougher and more meaningful consequences – ensuring there are local pathways to identify and change the behaviour of people involved in activities that cause drug-related harm	Police	Drug Testing on arrest (DToA) pilot in Basingstoke; agreement and funding has been obtained to roll out to Southampton. Existing partnership work to ensure mandatory referrals to support services following identification within custody.	Drug testing on arrest provision and pathway in place, including new lead worker in police custody and evidence of positive outcomes. Increased number and trend of people subject to Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR) and Alcohol Treatment Requirement (ATR) community sentences.	Ongoing Work to improve data reporting for DToA Planned review of Conditional Cautioning data and provision
2.	Delivering school-based prevention and early intervention – ensuring that all pupils receive a co-ordinated and coherent programme of evidence-based interventions to reduce the chances of them using drugs	SCC (Children’s) No Limits	Prevention and early intervention plan “BUZZ” educational sessions delivered in all secondary schools and 6^th Form colleges in Southampton Educational support offer funded by SSMTRG will commence in quarter 4 2022/23.	The Buzz educational sessions have continued throughout the year, with Year 9 and 10 children being those principally in scope. The sessions are delivered across most schools and have proved popular with pupils and with teaching staff. The Educational support offer has proved more difficult to implement across the city as there has been limited interest shown by schools and the recruitment and retention of specialist educational support workers has been difficult.	Buzz sessions and educational support development will continue in 2024/25.
3.	Supporting young people and families most at risk of substance misuse or criminal exploitation – co-ordinating early, targeted support to reduce harm within families that is sensitive to all the needs of the person or family and seeks to address the root causes of risk	SCC (Children’s) No Limits	Establish co-located specialist drug and alcohol youth workers within the Youth Hub, working jointly with Childrens Social Care. Develop a skilled wider workforce who feel confident and supported in being able to deliver consistent and well-informed prevention and education messages on substance use. Establish a young people’s drug and alcohol outreach team	Co-located specialist drug and alcohol support workers are in post and located within the Youth Hub as planned. Specialist workers are involved in the “Team around the family” and the “team around the professional” – assisting in developing the social work teams in regard to knowledge of drug and alcohol interventions and support. The YP outreach team has been established. Work to provide outreach to young adults as part of the night time economy is on-going.	Continue to develop work within the Youth Hub and the YP outreach teams in 2024/25 increasing the number of young people who are supported with drug and alcohol issues which leave them vulnerable to exploitation

Number

Commitment

Lead Agency

Current position

Progress

Jan-Dec 2023

Plan for 2024

1.

Applying tougher and more meaningful consequences – ensuring there are local pathways to identify and change the behaviour of people involved in activities that cause drug-related harm

Police

Drug Testing on arrest (DToA) pilot in Basingstoke; agreement and funding has been obtained to roll out to Southampton. Existing partnership work to ensure mandatory referrals to support services following identification within custody.

Drug testing on arrest provision and pathway in place, including new lead worker in police custody and evidence of positive outcomes.

Increased number and trend of people subject to Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR) and Alcohol Treatment Requirement (ATR) community sentences.

Ongoing
Work to improve data reporting for DToA
Planned review of Conditional Cautioning data and provision

2.

Delivering school-based prevention and early intervention – ensuring that all pupils receive a co-ordinated and coherent programme of evidence-based interventions to reduce the chances of them using drugs

SCC (Children’s)

No Limits

Prevention and early intervention plan

“BUZZ” educational sessions delivered in all secondary schools and 6^th Form colleges in Southampton
Educational support offer funded by SSMTRG will commence in quarter 4 2022/23.

The Buzz educational sessions have continued throughout the year, with Year 9 and 10 children being those principally in scope. The sessions are delivered across most schools and have proved popular with pupils and with teaching staff.

The Educational support offer has proved more difficult to implement across the city as there has been limited interest shown by schools and the recruitment and retention of specialist educational support workers has been difficult.

Buzz sessions and educational support development will continue in 2024/25.

3.

Supporting young people and families most at risk of substance misuse or criminal exploitation – co-ordinating early, targeted support to reduce harm within families that is sensitive to all the needs of the person or family and seeks to address the root causes of risk

SCC (Children’s)

No Limits

Establish co-located specialist drug and alcohol youth workers within the Youth Hub, working jointly with Childrens Social Care.

Develop a skilled wider workforce who feel confident and supported in being able to deliver consistent and well-informed prevention and education messages on substance use.

Establish a young people’s drug and alcohol outreach team

Co-located specialist drug and alcohol support workers are in post and located within the Youth Hub as planned. Specialist workers are involved in the “Team around the family” and the “team around the professional” – assisting in developing the social work teams in regard to knowledge of drug and alcohol interventions and support.

The YP outreach team has been established. Work to provide outreach to young adults as part of the night time economy is on-going.

Continue to develop work within the Youth Hub and the YP outreach teams in 2024/25 increasing the number of young people who are supported with drug and alcohol issues which leave them vulnerable to exploitation