Latest figures show that Herefordshire Community Safety and Drugs Partnership’s Drugs Intervention Programme (DIP) is exceeding government targets and helping cut drug related crime rates in Herefordshire from already very low levels.

Since January this year, the programme has received 78 new referrals to the service, 32 of which have come directly from prison, and the programme has consistently exceeded targets set by the government to offer drug treatment to people in the criminal justice system.

This success can be linked to recent figures showing that since 2005, domestic burglaries have fallen by nearly 50% in Herefordshire with vehicle crime also falling by 20%.

Furthermore, between October 2006 and September 2007, the number of drug related offences in Herefordshire dropped by over 15%.

DIP aims to get drug-misusing offenders out of crime and into treatment, as well as helping them to access other support relating to issues such as physical and mental health, employment and housing. It helps break the destructive cycle of drugs-offending-prison, which has a direct effect on drug related crime levels in the county.  

Home Office statistics show that this a more cost effective option than putting offenders through the criminal justice system repeatedly without support to help them address their drug problem. For every £1 spent on drug treatment, at least £9.50 is saved in health and crime costs.

Geoff Hughes, Chair of Herefordshire Community Safety and Drugs Partnership, said: “DIP offers a win-win solution - drug-misusing offenders get help through treatment and support; communities suffer less crime and criminal justice costs are reduced.”

For more information, please contact Adrian Turton on 01432 260324.