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18/11/2008
London Probation Commended For Tackling Alcohol Related Offending
Justice Minister David Hanson MP today praised London Probation's work in helping to steer offenders who misuse alcohol away from a life of crime.
Visiting an alcohol programme for offenders on community sentences in Southwark, the Minister underlined the importance of reducing re-offending amongst those with alcohol and drug problems ahead of a conference later today where various professionals will contribute their views on how to tackle the issue.
Justice Minister, David Hanson MP, said: "Reducing re-offending is one of the Government's highest priorities. We have a moral duty to make our communities safer and protect the public from harm.
"Alcohol misuse particularly can devastate lives. Millions of people in this country are affected by it every year - directly and indirectly. It not only does immense damage to health, but alcohol misuse can also be a driver of crime which causes misery to victims and costs the taxpayer millions of pounds a year.
"Alcohol is a factor in nearly half of all violent crime. The Government's long-term goal is to reduce violence and antisocial behaviour associated with alcohol, while ensuring that people are able to enjoy alcohol safely and responsibly."
The National Offender Management Service is working to reduce re-offending associated with substance misuse and figures already show a reduction in re-offending of almost 7% for offenders placed on accredited substance misuse programmes.
It is the case that 63% of sentenced males and 39% of sentenced females report a hazardous drinking pattern before coming into prison and around 8% are physically dependent on alcohol. We also know that around four out of every 10 (41%) offendors assessed while in the community have a current problem with alcohol misuse usually linked to their offending.
The latest national reducing re-offending results, published in September, show that the frequency of adult re-offending has fallen by 22.9% between 2000 and 2006, whilst for juvenile re-offending there was a fall of 18.7% in the same period. More recently - between 2005 and 2006 - the number of re-offences committed by adults decreased 13%, whilst for juveniles it fell by 1.5%.
(JM)
Visiting an alcohol programme for offenders on community sentences in Southwark, the Minister underlined the importance of reducing re-offending amongst those with alcohol and drug problems ahead of a conference later today where various professionals will contribute their views on how to tackle the issue.
Justice Minister, David Hanson MP, said: "Reducing re-offending is one of the Government's highest priorities. We have a moral duty to make our communities safer and protect the public from harm.
"Alcohol misuse particularly can devastate lives. Millions of people in this country are affected by it every year - directly and indirectly. It not only does immense damage to health, but alcohol misuse can also be a driver of crime which causes misery to victims and costs the taxpayer millions of pounds a year.
"Alcohol is a factor in nearly half of all violent crime. The Government's long-term goal is to reduce violence and antisocial behaviour associated with alcohol, while ensuring that people are able to enjoy alcohol safely and responsibly."
The National Offender Management Service is working to reduce re-offending associated with substance misuse and figures already show a reduction in re-offending of almost 7% for offenders placed on accredited substance misuse programmes.
It is the case that 63% of sentenced males and 39% of sentenced females report a hazardous drinking pattern before coming into prison and around 8% are physically dependent on alcohol. We also know that around four out of every 10 (41%) offendors assessed while in the community have a current problem with alcohol misuse usually linked to their offending.
The latest national reducing re-offending results, published in September, show that the frequency of adult re-offending has fallen by 22.9% between 2000 and 2006, whilst for juvenile re-offending there was a fall of 18.7% in the same period. More recently - between 2005 and 2006 - the number of re-offences committed by adults decreased 13%, whilst for juveniles it fell by 1.5%.
(JM)
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Fines increased for drink-related offences
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12 June 2003
Charity urges better services for treating alcoholism
A leading social care charity has urged the government to give alcohol treatment as high a priority as it does for drug misuse, following the publication of research earlier today.
Charity urges better services for treating alcoholism
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