Drug charity loses police funding

A Nottinghamshire drugs awareness charity faces "a bleak future" because police funding is being withdrawn, managers say.

Nottinghamshire was the UK trial area for the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) charity, which began in the US in 1983.

Chairman Richard Goad said the loss of £165,000 a year was a serious blow.

A Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson said the force will be working with DARE to find alternative funding.

'Essential service'

The charity explains the dangers posed by the misuse of drugs, alcohol and tobacco to children in schools.

It also aims to "provide them with the skills to avoid violence throughout their school years at both primary and secondary level".

Mr Goad said: "They've (the police) made it quite clear that they're being pushed to spend their money in terms of short-term performance figures ... I think it is very sad and I hope parents of children that have come out of DARE would support us in saying this isn't right.

"Police involvement is vital and we would like to continue to have that in some shape or form," he said.

'Finding balance'

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Ackerley denied the funding had been withdrawn to meet short-term performance demands.

"Nottinghamshire Police has a responsibility to provide sustainable long-term policing to the public of Nottinghamshire within the budget allocated to the force.

"This necessitates finding the balance between providing the appropriate level of response to incidents, the capability to fully investigate offences, delivering community-based policing, and working proactively with partners to tackle the causes of crime," he said.

Retired police officers work with DARE at many primary schools in the county.

The funding will be withdrawn from September, a police spokesman said.