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Scheme aims to reduce offences by helping vulnerable addicts
By Matt Dicks The Courier, Wednesday August 16th 2000
Breaking the crime drugs link
A Crime Busting scheme, which targets drug and alcohol addicts,
has been launched in Neath and Port Talbot.
Under the Arrest Referral Scheme everyone arrested in the area
will be offered the chance to speak to a substance misuse advisor
at Neath Police Station.
It is hoped this Home Office funded project will reduce the amount
of crime committed by drug and alcohol abusers.
It has been launched after figures showed many of the 215,000 addicts
in England and Wales committed crime to get money to buy drugs.
"With this scheme we catch offenders at their most vulnerable
point when they are looking for help," said West Glamorgan
Council for Drug and Alcohol Abuse arrests referral officer Brian
Williams.
"It allows us to assess their needs immediately rather than
waiting six weeks or more for them to be referred to us - in which
time they could relapse and re-offend.
"We will help everyone if they want it and this scheme allows
us to make sure they get the help they need." The Home Office
funded pilot schemes in Derby, Leeds and Brighton in a bid to tackle
the link between drug abuse and crime.
These schemes were very successful and resulted in reduced drug
abuse and a fall in the amount spent of drugs.
Now the Home Office is funding schemes across the country and South
Wales Police was given £188,000.
Neath and Port Talbot is one of the first areas to implement it
in South Wales.
The scheme is a partnership between South Wales Police, West Glamorgan
Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Neath Port Talbot Council.
Neath Port Talbot Council leader Noel Crowley said: "There
is a problem with alcohol and drug abuse in Neath and Port Talbot.
"I am pleased with this scheme because it will help young
people who have made mistakes get back on track," he added.
Caption: HELP OFFER: A three way partnership has been formed in
a bid to reduce levels of drug-related crime in Neath and Port Talbot.
The police, Neath Port Talbot Council and West Glamorgan Council
on Alcohol and Drug Abuse are all involved in the new initiative,
which has been officially launched at Gnoll Country Park.
It will see every person arrested in Neath and Port Talbot offered
the chance to see a trained assessor. If they are deemed to have
a problem they will then be referred for appropriate treatment.
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