FIRST DRUG COURT HELPS TO CUT COST OF CRIME

SCOTLAND'S first US-style drug court has potentially cut the cost of crime
in Glasgow by about 500,000 UKP in just six months, according to figures
released today.

The court, which began sitting at Glasgow Sheriff Court last November, has
so far heard more than 60 cases and imposed 33 drug treatment and testing
orders (DTTOs), the Scottish Executive said.

Richard Simpson, deputy justice minister, said the early signs were highly
encouraging and could lead to more non-custodial treatment for drug addicts
who wanted to end their cycle of crime and dependency.

He said: "The potential success this unique course of justice can deliver
can have a dramatic impact on reducing crime in the city as well as
diverting suitable cases away from custody to rehabilitation.

"The drug court is by no means a soft option. Those referred to it undergo
a rigorous programme of drug testing and treatment and can be referred back
to the courts for sentencing if they break the terms of their order."

The court, which is supported by a social work team, ultimately expects to
hear more than 150 cases a year. Research carried out at Stirling
University and due to be published next month shows that, after six months
of a DTTO programme, an offender will have reduced his or her habit by
almost 90%.

Drugs-related offending also falls markedly, with addicts spending an
average 57 UKP a week on drugs six months into a DTTO, compared to 490 UKP
a week before starting on one. With each offender costing society an
estimated 31,200 UKP a year in stolen property alone, the executive
estimates the 33 orders imposed by the court in its first six months could
save around 500,000 UKP.

More money will have been saved through the 45 DTTOs imposed by other,
general courts in Glasgow over the same time.

Each DTTO costs around 8000 UKP a year to supervise compared to around
14,000 UKP for a six-month prison sentence.

Glasgow has an estimated 14,000 addicts, commiting an average 26 crimes a
month to feed a 1500 UKP-a-month habit.

Crimes typically include shoplifting, housebreaking, car theft, fraud and
prostitution.

Offenders picked to go before the drug court will first have passed through
a detailed screening process.

While on a DTTO, people must undergo a programme of urine tests, assessment
and rehabilitation in a bid to prove that they are making every effort to
end offending.

Those who fail the order can face further punishment, including prison.

Dr Simpson said a second drug court pilot programme would begin in Fife
this summer, and, if the trials proved a success, the executive would look
at rolling them out across Scotland.

Alistair Ramsay, director of Scotland Against Drugs, said he visited the
court only last week and was "seriously impressed".

He said: "It has to be the way forward for people who have drugs problems -
not for dealers but for those with problems.

"It was originally seen as a soft option but it is not and if someone is
placed on an order, which can be for up to 18 months or two years, it is
enforced and they are closely monitored, as much as every two weeks.

"But it was also nice to hear a judge speaking sympathetically to someone
with a drugs problem, and the support team at the court has social work
staff, addiction workers and medical staff, who all work with the
individual. It is an excellent set-up."

George Hunter, of the drugs crisis centre Turning Point in Glasgow, added:
"It is pointless having people rattling around the criminal justice system
- - hostel to court to hostel to prison. Hopefully it will bring an end to
that revolving door."