ALCOHOL
DIVERSION SCHEME SUCCESS IN WESTERN AREA
An innovative scheme aimed at re-educating adults
away from the dangers of alcohol and violence has
proved successful in Dacorum during the past few months.
The Alcohol Diversion Scheme has been developed by
the Dacorum Community Safety Partnership to target
revellers who have been issued with Penalty Notices
for Disorder for offences of either being drunk and
disorderly or public order offences involving drink,.
Since its launch in August, 25 per cent of those given
a notice have opted to attend a specially developed
three hour course aimed at rehabilitating individuals
away from drink and violence. Participants get to
talk about their drinking and behaviour habits and
are invited to watch educational films featuring disturbing
scenes of street violence followed by discussion sessions
led by staff at Druglink.
When individuals are issued with a notice which carries
a fine of £80, they are given the option of
having a £40 discount if they attend the course.
The £40 is then used to fund the course making
it self-sustaining.
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Pryce from the Constabulary's
Crime Management Department who, in partnership with
Druglink, has led the pilot said: “To our knowledge
this is the first scheme of its kind in the country
and everyone who has attended the course has said
their behaviour will change. Significantly no-one
who has attended the course has re-offended. We hope
to extend the pilot across the whole of the county
in 2008 ”
Druglink's link trainer, Sue Green, added: “participants
arrive showing some resentment and youthful belligerence
against having to attend and pay for the course. However
by the end of the session, the information they have
received has stimulated debate and increases their
awareness about the dangers associated with excessive
alcohol consumption.”
The course itself falls in line with the government's
Alcohol Reduction Strategy and covers aspects such
as understanding alcoholic units, health consequences
and how one's life ambitions such as foreign travel
and future employment can be lost through the consequences
of binge drinking and violent behaviour.
The scheme has been nominated for a crimestoppers
award.
January 2008
|
