Interactions Between People Who Use Drugs and the Police: Experiences and Impacts (the INTERPRET Study)
People who use drugs often interact with the police. This study explores the frequency, nature and impact of these interactions.
Research Team
Background
Heroin and crack cocaine are considered to be the two most harmful illegal drugs. People who use these substances often interact with the police. Previous research suggests that these interactions can have both positive and negative impacts on people who use heroin and/or crack cocaine, and can also place considerable demands on police time and resources. However, we know very little about the frequency, nature and impact of these interactions.
Purpose of the research:
This study aims to obtain a fuller picture of interactions between the police and people who use heroin and/or crack cocaine, as well as identify best practice and reveal important learning for services.
What we will do:
- Interview 20 police officers and PCSOs who regularly interact with people who use heroin and/or crack cocaine
- Interview 60 people who are using heroin and/or crack cocaine
- Conduct interviews and focus groups with practitioners who regularly interact with people use heroin and/or crack cocaine
- Conduct observations of interactions between the police and people who use heroin and/or crack cocaine
- Analyse routinely collected police data