Report says rehab cuts crime

Rehabilitation schemes aimed at drug-taking offenders in Shropshire are proving successful and helping to cut crime, claims a report to county council watchdogs.

The Government, it says, recognises that drug treatment is effective, cheaper and more productive, than repeatedly putting offenders through the criminal justice system without addressing their drugs problem.

Although there are no specific figures available for Shropshire, the Government has estimated that for every pound spent on treatment, at least £9.50 is saved in crime and health costs.

Nationally, support for drug using offenders is expected to save at least £4.4 billion for the taxpayer over eight years.

In Shropshire there are two key schemes under which offenders are helped - the Drug Intervention Programme (DIP) which started in 2003 and the Priority Offenders Programme (PPO) which began in 2004.

The report says the DIP scheme made 352 offender contacts during 2007/07 and currently has contact with 222 individuals.

"Detailed local analysis highlights the fact that, once engaged with the DIP process, the treatment outcomes for individuals are very successful," says the report.

Currently there are 14 adult and five young offenders being treated under the PPO scheme. There are a further 31 young people being supported through the Youth Offending Service as part of the the PPO initiative.

National data shows that just over a one-third of PPOs are class A drug users and therefore drug use and obtaining drugs is a significant factor in their crime related behaviour.

Crimes associated with drug use such as shoplifting and theft, fell nationally by 12 per cent between March 2005 and April 2006.

The report, being presented to the county council community services scrutiny panel next week, says research suggests this overall reduction in crime is in part due to DIP and PPO schemes.

In Shropshire an increasing number of drug-using offenders are receiving treatment.

By Dave Morris