BURY'S police headquarters is pioneering a new drug testing facility to reduce drug-related crime.
The new "test on arrest" powers were introduced to Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire forces last month and they enable arresting officers to test offenders of "trigger" crimes, such as theft, burglary, handling stolen goods and car crime, committed to fund cocaine and heroin habits.
Bury police divisional commander Chief Superintendent Janette McCormick said: "The aim of the scheme is to get offenders into treatment and encourage them to move away from drug use. For every £1 spent on treatment, we save £9 on the cost towards fighting the actual crime."
The new £125,000 suite is part-funded by the Government.
Since December 1, more than 150 offenders in Bury have been tested for cocaine and heroin use and of those, nearly a third tested positive.
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