Contact Southwark

Address: Great Guildford Business Square, 30 Great Guildford Street, London, SE1 0HS

Telephone: 020 7525 0839. Fax: 020 7401 3301.

Southwark Contact is a Tier 2 service working within the Drug Intervention Programme. The scheme employs a pro-active cells based approach with workers visiting police custody cells and magistrates courts cells on a daily basis.  

The scheme offers help, advice, information and onward referral to both statutory and non-statutory services for people who have become involved in the Criminal Justice System as a result of their drug use.

The service is introduced to arrestees in the police custody suite by the custody staff. They are given a leaflet explaining what the scheme can offer and contact details. Arrestees can then ask to see the worker while they are in custody, and at an appropriate moment in their detention the worker will see them in the privacy of an interview room. Following assessment the client can access ongoing support until they have engaged with the most appropriate service for their needs.

What we offer:

We are committed to providing a non-judgmental and confidential service for all clients.

Detail of services provided:

  • Full assessment (voluntary and RA) and referral on to appropriate services.
  • Access to Support Services.
  • Access to follow-up sessions.
  • Access to harm reduction advice.
  • Acting as advocate when referring on.
  • Applications for RoB when at court.

Referral process:

Referrals come directly from the Southwark police in response to a detainee requesting to speak to a drug worker or self-referrals as a result of proactive contact by workers. Also,a referral will be made if a detainee tests positive for a class A drug, they are required to be assessed by a drug worker whilst in custody.

Referrals can be made on a 24 hours basis. Out of hours referrals can be left on the answer service and will be responded to as soon as possible.

If a detainee tests positive the police will contact Southwark SPOC and book an appointment for the detainee to be assessed by a drug worker at Evolve.

Access for clients:

The service is available to over 17's who have recently been arrested in Southwark.

Clients are seen for assessment in interview rooms within the police custody suites and the courts.

Clients can be seen at other times during the week on an appointment only basis.

The service covers the police custody suites at Peckham and Walworth, as well as the cells at Tower bridge Magistrates court.