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| Give addicts heroin, says officer | Give addicts heroin, says officer |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Heroin should be prescribed to drug addicts to tackle crime, the deputy chief constable of Nottinghamshire has said at a drugs conference. | Heroin should be prescribed to drug addicts to tackle crime, the deputy chief constable of Nottinghamshire has said at a drugs conference. |
| Howard Roberts told an Association of Chief Police Officers' conference in Manchester the idea should be assessed. | Howard Roberts told an Association of Chief Police Officers' conference in Manchester the idea should be assessed. |
| He said the treatment would cost £12,000 a year per addict but added that drug users steal property valued at an average of £45,000 a year. | He said the treatment would cost £12,000 a year per addict but added that drug users steal property valued at an average of £45,000 a year. |
| The idea is being piloted in London, the South East and North of England. | The idea is being piloted in London, the South East and North of England. |
| 'Terrible consequences' | 'Terrible consequences' |
| "At the moment across the country we see levels of burglary, robbery and murder being committed by drug-fuelled addicts who are doing so in order to get the money to buy the drugs," Mr Roberts told the conference. | "At the moment across the country we see levels of burglary, robbery and murder being committed by drug-fuelled addicts who are doing so in order to get the money to buy the drugs," Mr Roberts told the conference. |
| "One of the things I have found is that as a treatment it has been highly effective in actually helping to reduce crime. | "One of the things I have found is that as a treatment it has been highly effective in actually helping to reduce crime. |
| "We've seen good levels of falls in drug-related acquisitive crime. | "We've seen good levels of falls in drug-related acquisitive crime. |
| "However, there is still a considerable problem and what I am suggesting is that we need to explore, as part of a treatment programme, the prescribing of heroin to addicts in order to take them out of the illegal market." | "However, there is still a considerable problem and what I am suggesting is that we need to explore, as part of a treatment programme, the prescribing of heroin to addicts in order to take them out of the illegal market." |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Great, more rewards for being a criminal James Smith, Watford Send us your comments href="/1/hi/uk/6173230.stm" class="">Q and A with Howard Roberts | |
| He added: "Of course, getting people off drugs altogether must be the objective. | He added: "Of course, getting people off drugs altogether must be the objective. |
| "But I do believe that we have lived with the terrible consequences of relatively uncontained addiction for far too long. | "But I do believe that we have lived with the terrible consequences of relatively uncontained addiction for far too long. |
| "If we are to make a greater impact we need to fundamentally address the method of operation of the criminal market-place for heroin." | "If we are to make a greater impact we need to fundamentally address the method of operation of the criminal market-place for heroin." |
| Improve treatment | Improve treatment |
| The manager of a Nottinghamshire-based support service for families of drug users supported the police chief's call. | The manager of a Nottinghamshire-based support service for families of drug users supported the police chief's call. |
| "I'm delighted that police are taking drug treatment options more seriously and have been doing so over the last few years," said Nina Dauban, manager of Mansfield-based Hetty's. | "I'm delighted that police are taking drug treatment options more seriously and have been doing so over the last few years," said Nina Dauban, manager of Mansfield-based Hetty's. |
| "In the past police have been forced to go down the enforcement and criminal justice route that doesn't always solve the problem. | "In the past police have been forced to go down the enforcement and criminal justice route that doesn't always solve the problem. |
| "There is a lot of criminality around drugs, reducing the level of criminality is really important in improving treatment for addicts. | "There is a lot of criminality around drugs, reducing the level of criminality is really important in improving treatment for addicts. |
| "All tribute to him saying this. It is typical of Nottinghamshire Police not to be frightened to speak about their convictions. | "All tribute to him saying this. It is typical of Nottinghamshire Police not to be frightened to speak about their convictions. |
| "We're not here to win a popularity contest - we're out to improve services for drug users." | "We're not here to win a popularity contest - we're out to improve services for drug users." |
| Martin Barnes, chief executive of drugs charity DrugScope, said: "There is compelling evidence that heroin prescribing, although more expensive than some forms of drug treatment, is cost-effective in reducing drug-related crime and other costs to communities." | Martin Barnes, chief executive of drugs charity DrugScope, said: "There is compelling evidence that heroin prescribing, although more expensive than some forms of drug treatment, is cost-effective in reducing drug-related crime and other costs to communities." |
| In the Department of Health pilots, 300 to 400 drug users receive heroin for their addiction. A report on the study is expected next month. | In the Department of Health pilots, 300 to 400 drug users receive heroin for their addiction. A report on the study is expected next month. |
| Similar schemes in Holland and Switzerland reported some users turning away from crime. | Similar schemes in Holland and Switzerland reported some users turning away from crime. |