Slough Borough Council

Out of Crime, into Treatment

The Safer Slough Partnership has received half a million pounds in Government funding to help its fight against drugs misuse and crime. The two problems are often linked, as drug misusers steal to fund their habit. The scheme will help around 300 drug misusing offenders a year, and aims to stop the revolving door of drugs, offending and prison.

The funds will help join up all the services and partners involved in delivering the programme. This will build on the work started by Slough and South Bucks District Council in 2002 with money from the recovered assets fund, which aimed to reduce crime by increasing the numbers of drug misusers going into treatment. The additional funds will also provide a team to manage the drugs misusers.

Mike Atwood, chief executive of Slough PCT, and chair of the drug action team said: "Slough Drug Action Team is excited by the opportunity to work closely with our partners in the criminal justice system and other support services. We can make a real difference in turning round the lives of drug misusers who have to commit crime to help fund their habit"

Cheryl Coppell, chief executive of Slough Borough Council said: "The council works closely with many partners in Slough to help improve the lives of local people.

Tackling drugs is a priority for all of us as it not only disrupts the lives of those using drugs and their families, but also the wider community.

Initiatives such as the Drugs Intervention Programme help us to treat people so that we are able to break the cycle of using drugs and committing crime to feed their habit.

The council and our colleagues in health and the police are working hard to reduce drug-related crime in Slough, and this is one of many initiatives that will help us to improve life for everyone in the borough."