The British Government is to spend £1m testing a new court order, allowing courts to make convicted drugs offenders have treatment.

Prisons Minister, Joyce Quin: We've got to find the most effective way to tackle these problems (1'58")

The Government wants to extend such programmes for some offenders under the drug treatment and testing order. If offenders do not comply, they could be back in court to face a tougher sentence.

The introduction of the court orders is part of the Crime and Disorder Bill, published by the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, earlier this month.

The Government hopes the programme will provide a significant step towards breaking the link between drugs and crime, which it says causes misery to both users and victims.

It is estimated that between 50,000 and 100,000 offenders on probation are drug abusers.

A probation inspectorate report just released suggests those offenders are more likely to reduce their levels of addiction if they participate in treatment programmes.

The report also reveals that 80% of offenders controlled or reduced their abuse after treatment.

The Government believes the public will support the plan.

The Prisons Minister, Joyce Quin, said public sympathy regarding a recent scandal involving the son of an un-named Cabinet minister suggests that British citizens will support "alternative" solutions.

Pressed on whether she thought that the case showed that people were sympathetic to drug abuse, the minister said: "I think that is right and is a positive attitude that people realise that these problems do exist.

"They realise there are problems all kind of families across the country are facing," she told BBC radio.

Probation officers also are welcoming the measure. But they said more resources were needed on top of the £1m pilot scheme if it was to succeed nationwide.
 

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