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13/12/2005
‘Drug courts’ pilot launched
The government has launched a pilot scheme of dedicated ‘drug courts’ as part of a drive to reduce drug-related crime.
The new framework will deal with offenders who carry out crimes such as shoplifting or vehicle crime, which are often associated with drug abusers.
Under the plans, the offender will be referred to the dedicated drug court for sentencing after they are found guilty. They will sentence the offender and provide continuity and stability in reviews of offenders on drug treatment orders.
Offenders will be required to undergo progress reviews and regular drug tests.
If the order is breached, the magistrates or district judge will re-sentence the offender for the original offence, with all options – including custody – considered.
The pilot will take place at Leeds and West London magistrates’ court and will last for eighteen months, until June 2007. The pilot will be measured to see if the framework helps to reduce drug-related offending and abuse and if it is cost-effective.
Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer stressed that the measures were not a “soft option”. He said: “Offenders will see the same faces every time they come for reviews of their treatment order, creating a more informal atmosphere where the goals set in the drug treatment order are reviewed.
“We want to get people off drugs and, therefore, off petty crime, by targeting the reason people on drugs offend. Failure to complete the treatment will result in the offenders being brought back before the court.
(KMcA/SP)
The new framework will deal with offenders who carry out crimes such as shoplifting or vehicle crime, which are often associated with drug abusers.
Under the plans, the offender will be referred to the dedicated drug court for sentencing after they are found guilty. They will sentence the offender and provide continuity and stability in reviews of offenders on drug treatment orders.
Offenders will be required to undergo progress reviews and regular drug tests.
If the order is breached, the magistrates or district judge will re-sentence the offender for the original offence, with all options – including custody – considered.
The pilot will take place at Leeds and West London magistrates’ court and will last for eighteen months, until June 2007. The pilot will be measured to see if the framework helps to reduce drug-related offending and abuse and if it is cost-effective.
Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer stressed that the measures were not a “soft option”. He said: “Offenders will see the same faces every time they come for reviews of their treatment order, creating a more informal atmosphere where the goals set in the drug treatment order are reviewed.
“We want to get people off drugs and, therefore, off petty crime, by targeting the reason people on drugs offend. Failure to complete the treatment will result in the offenders being brought back before the court.
(KMcA/SP)
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20 August 2003
Detained addicts to face compulsory drug testing
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Detained addicts to face compulsory drug testing
Addicts who steal to fund their habit will face compulsory drug testing when they are arrested as part of a £46 million package of measures to tackle drug-related crime. The scheme aims to get offenders off drugs and out of trouble and is being phased into 30 of England's worst-affected areas.
04 December 2003
Ecstasy in decline but drug use is 'stable'
Class A drug use overall has remained the same but ecstasy use has fallen by a fifth, according to Home Office figures published today. Figures for 2002/03 show that class A drug use among young people has been "broadly stable" since 1996 with recent falls in some individual drugs, such as ecstasy which has fallen for the first time.
Ecstasy in decline but drug use is 'stable'
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17 October 2003
54 arrested in swoop on suspected drug dealers
Sellers of the Big Issue were among 54 people arrested by Merseyside Police today in a crackdown on drug dealing in Liverpool city centre. Operation Manton targeted suspected drug dealers and drug users and 50 men and four women were arrested following a 15-month long investigation by Merseyside Police into drug dealing on the city's streets.
54 arrested in swoop on suspected drug dealers
Sellers of the Big Issue were among 54 people arrested by Merseyside Police today in a crackdown on drug dealing in Liverpool city centre. Operation Manton targeted suspected drug dealers and drug users and 50 men and four women were arrested following a 15-month long investigation by Merseyside Police into drug dealing on the city's streets.
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