The two forces claim wall drawings featuring messaging and in-cell screens at six police investigation centers (PICs) have seen a significant increase in referrals to support services used to divert offenders away from crime.

Suffolk and Norfolk Police’s head of custody, Ch Insp Rob Wicks, said they had been “judgmental” about suspects in the past.

He added that there had been a “cultural shift” and that they were “quite proud of what they are doing now and the opportunities to prevent detainees from returning to detention in the future.”

This method of behavior modification is called: “nudge theory” and a £1 million Home Office grant was used to upgrade six detention centres.

Screen technology in cells, Researchers at the University of Sheffield developing animated films.

Through the guidance and liaison team, they aim to inform detainees about their rights, health conditions and the services offered to them.

The Home Office also includes grants to pay each PIC to convert an interview room into a comfortable and safe space where teams can receive detainees and offer them support in a less formal setting.

The team provides advice on gambling, welfare, employment benefits, housing and recovery services for drug users.

Turning Point provides drug recovery services for Suffolk Police.

The charity’s Dr Granville Sutton said they had heard from other drug workers across the country about detention environments “where there wasn’t a lot going on”.

“We’re really lucky in Suffolk,” he said, and the detention facilities have been “really amazing… the screens and the signage work.”

He explained that people are often stressed and don’t understand what’s going on.

He said messages in cells and on screens give detainees something to read or watch and “get them thinking.”

When they come into the comfortable meeting room, they see that “we are dealing with them in a very different way.”

“We hope to help them improve their health and never be detained again,” he said.

Robin Pivett had been a police officer for more than 30 years and became a civilian drug liaison officer running the joint On Demand Drug Testing service for Norfolk and Suffolk police forces.

He was especially effective in making changes in detention for drug users.

He does not find the approach “soft on criminals”.

“What they’re trying to do is identify people with serious problems, address their addictions, and keep them healthy and alive in the long term and, of course, not commit more crimes.” he said.

Chief Inspector Rob Wicks agreed and said: “We deal with crime on a case-by-case basis (but) we always seek to provide the best possible service to victims.

“Reducing the number of people who reoffend will reduce the number of victims and therefore the impact of crime.”

More according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs 700,000 people We pass through detention centers every year.

Evaluations of animated films continueIng and the final report is expected to be published next spring.

It will not take into account whether it reduces recidivism rates, only whether detainees benefit from the referral and contact services offered.

Dr Sutton said it was very difficult to measure the overall impact on reoffending rates, but his research showed “drug users become healthier and commit fewer crimes while in treatment”.